Schuyler County, New York
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 39.1 | $4M | ||
| Drought | 66.1 | $393K | ||
| Tornado | 22.1 | $275K | ||
| Hail | 42.6 | $187K | ||
| Hurricane | 57.8 | $153K | ||
| Strong wind | 15.7 | $127K | ||
| Ice storm | 54.5 | $99K | ||
| Lightning | 28.7 | $99K | ||
| Cold wave | 11.5 | $96K | ||
| Heat wave | 20.3 | $60K | ||
| Earthquake | 19.7 | $26K | ||
| Winter weather | 9.3 | $7K | ||
| Wildfire | 6.9 | $2K | ||
| Landslide | 53.5 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 37.3 | $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
Most recent
Show all 11
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 1955 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 28, 1988 | F1 | – | 1 / 1 |
| Jul 13, 2014 | EF1 | Reading Center | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 1964 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2003 | Flash Flood | South Portion | $3M |
| Jun 14, 2015 | Flash Flood | Watkins Glen | $3M |
| Jun 14, 2015 | Flash Flood | Tyrone | $3M |
| Jun 14, 2015 | Flash Flood | Tyrone | $3M |
| Jan 19, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $2M |
| Nov 8, 1996 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 47 mi |
| Sep 17, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 51 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 48 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 48 mi |
| Sep 17, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 60 mi |
| Oct 14, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 47 mi |
| Sep 18, 1876 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 51 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tompkins County | 16 | |
| Steuben County | 21 | |
| Chemung County | 15 | |
| Seneca County | 8 | |
| Yates County | 17 |
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.