Saratoga County, New York
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 83.3 | $38M | ||
| Tornado | 69.9 | $4M | ||
| Hurricane | 77.7 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 54.4 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 73.3 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 63.0 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 78.5 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 59.5 | $941K | ||
| Ice storm | 78.8 | $621K | ||
| Hail | 47.6 | $398K | ||
| Winter weather | 46.7 | $96K | ||
| Wildfire | 37.4 | $36K | ||
| Landslide | 59.6 | $4K | ||
| Avalanche | 31.3 | $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
Most recent
Show all 16
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1998 | F3 | Ushers | 68 / 0 |
| Nov 16, 1989 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Aug 29, 2020 | EF1 | Coons | 1 / 0 |
| Jul 29, 1974 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 2013 | EF1 | Vischer Ferry | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1998 | Tornado | Ushers | $60M |
| Jul 26, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Saratoga Springs | $5M |
| Jun 2, 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Milton Center | $1M |
| Jul 23, 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $500K |
| Jul 6, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Clifton Park | $300K |
| Nov 16, 1989 | Tornado | – | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 49 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 49 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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Kings County | Inland flooding | |
| Queens County | Inland flooding | |
| New York County | Inland flooding | |
| Suffolk County | Inland flooding | |
| Bronx County | Inland flooding | |
| Nassau County | Inland flooding | |
| Westchester County | Inland flooding | |
| Erie County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Albany County | 19 | |
| Rensselaer County | 24 | |
| Schenectady County | 21 | |
| Warren County | 15 | |
| Washington County | 12 | |
| Fulton County | 14 | |
| Montgomery County | 22 | |
| Hamilton County | 14 |
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.