Home › New York › Schuyler County

Schuyler County, New York

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

Very Low overall risk
61st of 62highest risk in New York
$6Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Schuyler County, New York has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 84% of US counties. It ranks 61st of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $6.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $335 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (8 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2018 (severe storms and flooding). Only 36 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $410,000 on 30 claims here.

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

Top risks in Schuyler County

$4.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Drought

Moderate
$392,820 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.

Tornado

Very Low
$275,192 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow39.1
$4M
DroughtModerate66.1
$393K
TornadoVery Low22.1
$275K
HailLow42.6
$187K
HurricaneVery Low57.8
$153K
Strong windVery Low15.7
$127K
Ice stormLow54.5
$99K
LightningLow28.7
$99K
Cold waveVery Low11.5
$96K
Heat waveVery Low20.3
$60K
EarthquakeVery Low19.7
$26K
Winter weatherVery Low9.3
$7K
WildfireVery Low6.9
$2K
LandslideVery Low53.5
$2K
AvalancheVery Low37.3
$180

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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Flood4
Severe Storm3
Hurricane2
Snowstorm1
Fire1

Most recent

Oct 1, 2018Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Dec 9, 1996Severe Storms High Winds, Rain and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
Show all 11
Jul 22, 1970Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 207 storm reports in Schuyler County since 1955, with 1 death and 7 injuries and about $15.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on August 30, 1955.

6tornadoes
34hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
144damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 30, 1955F3–0 / 0
Aug 28, 1990F2–0 / 0
Aug 28, 1988F1–1 / 1
Jul 13, 2014EF1Reading Center0 / 0
Jun 15, 1964F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 22, 2003Flash FloodSouth Portion$3M
Jun 14, 2015Flash FloodWatkins Glen$3M
Jun 14, 2015Flash FloodTyrone$3M
Jun 14, 2015Flash FloodTyrone$3M
Jan 19, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Nov 8, 1996Flash FloodCountywide$600K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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 1876, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Schuyler County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 47 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1933most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph47 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph48 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph48 mi
Sep 17, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph60 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph47 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph51 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 Schuyler County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (36 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$409,911paid on 30 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $302,418 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 Schuyler County

$171,800median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
17.5%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; 9,752 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
Tompkins CountyLow16
Steuben CountyLow21
Chemung CountyLow15
Seneca CountyVery Low8
Yates CountyLow17

Common questions about Schuyler County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Schuyler County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Schuyler County, about $4.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $392,820.

How many federal disasters has Schuyler County had?

Schuyler County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 8 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in October 2018.

Is Schuyler County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 61st 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 Schuyler County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Schuyler 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 Schuyler County had?

NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Schuyler County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on August 30, 1955. The weather service has also logged 34 hail reports and 21 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Schuyler County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Schuyler 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.