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Saratoga County, New York

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
29th of 62highest risk in New York
$53Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Saratoga County, New York has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 73% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $53 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $225 per resident. Since 1987 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2021 (Hurricane Henri). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (518 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $8.1 million on 581 claims here, including $5.0 million for floods in 2011.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Saratoga County

$38.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Tornado

Moderate
$4.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 25 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate83.3
$38M
TornadoModerate69.9
$4M
HurricaneLow77.7
$2M
Cold waveLow54.4
$2M
EarthquakeLow73.3
$2M
Strong windModerate63.0
$1M
LightningModerate78.5
$1M
Heat waveLow59.5
$941K
Ice stormModerate78.8
$621K
HailLow47.6
$398K
Winter weatherLow46.7
$96K
WildfireVery Low37.4
$36K
LandslideVery Low59.6
$4K
AvalancheVery Low31.3
$197

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Saratoga County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm5
Severe Storm5
Hurricane4
Flood1
Fire1

Most recent

Aug 22, 2021Hurricane HenriEmergency
Dec 19, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2017Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Aug 31, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Mar 4, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Dec 18, 2008Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2003SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 16
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Jun 16, 1998Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jan 6, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Nov 10, 1987Severe Winter StormMajor disaster

New York also had 12 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,135 storm reports in Saratoga County since 1960, with 2 deaths and 91 injuries and about $72.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1998 near Ushers.

13tornadoes
205hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
767damaging thunderstorm winds
113floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 31, 1998F3Ushers68 / 0
Nov 16, 1989F1–1 / 0
Aug 29, 2020EF1Coons1 / 0
Jul 29, 1974F1–0 / 0
May 29, 2013EF1Vischer Ferry0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 31, 1998TornadoUshers$60M
Jul 26, 1994Thunderstorm WindSaratoga Springs$5M
Jun 2, 2000Thunderstorm WindMilton Center$1M
Jul 23, 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$500K
Jul 6, 1999Thunderstorm WindClifton Park$300K
Nov 16, 1989Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1893, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Saratoga County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 49 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
2011most recent: Irene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph49 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 60 mph57 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph60 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph49 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Saratoga County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (518 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$8.1 millionpaid on 581 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $5 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Saratoga County

$348,600median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.7%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 112,109 housing units.

Compare in New York

All 62 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Kings CountyHighInland flooding
Queens CountyHighInland flooding
New York CountyHighInland flooding
Suffolk CountyHighInland flooding
Bronx CountyHighInland flooding
Nassau CountyHighInland flooding
Westchester CountyHighInland flooding
Erie CountyHighInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Albany CountyModerate19
Rensselaer CountyModerate24
Schenectady CountyLow21
Warren CountyLow15
Washington CountyLow12
Fulton CountyLow14
Montgomery CountyLow22
Hamilton CountyVery Low14

Cities in Saratoga County

Common questions about Saratoga County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Saratoga County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Saratoga County, about $38.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $4.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Saratoga County had?

Saratoga County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1987, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Henri in August 2021.

Is Saratoga County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 29th highest of 62 in New York. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Saratoga County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 167 homes in Saratoga County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Saratoga County had?

NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Saratoga County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 31, 1998 near Ushers. The weather service has also logged 205 hail reports and 113 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Saratoga County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Saratoga County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.