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Warren County, New York

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

Relatively Low overall risk
41st of 62highest risk in New York
$25Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Warren County, New York has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and lightning. FEMA estimates about $25 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $387 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2019 (severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (144 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.8 million on 116 claims here, including $982,000 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 Warren County

$15.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 24 times a year.
  • Go indoors when you hear thunder.
  • Use surge protectors for electronics.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow71.5
$16M
Cold waveModerate83.2
$5M
LightningHigh92.8
$2M
TornadoLow39.0
$911K
EarthquakeLow65.2
$685K
Strong windLow45.6
$538K
HurricaneLow67.2
$511K
Heat waveVery Low35.5
$206K
HailVery Low30.0
$132K
Ice stormLow54.3
$115K
Winter weatherLow52.0
$77K
LandslideLow77.9
$14K
WildfireVery Low24.9
$12K
AvalancheVery Low64.0
$2K

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 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 Warren County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood4
Hurricane4
Severe Storm4
Snowstorm1
Fire1
Earthquake1

Most recent

Dec 19, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Aug 31, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Jun 10, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Apr 16, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 1, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 16, 2002EarthquakeMajor disaster
Show all 15
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Sep 19, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Jan 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Jul 21, 1976Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1966

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 465 storm reports in Warren County since 1966, with 4 deaths and 34 injuries and about $36.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 9, 1978.

7tornadoes
54hail reports, largest 3.5 inches
299damaging thunderstorm winds
95floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 9, 1978F1–0 / 0
May 29, 2020EF1Hartman0 / 0
Jul 16, 2024EF1Harrisburg0 / 0
Apr 18, 1985F0–0 / 0
Jul 8, 2014EF0North Creek0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 28, 2011Flash FloodBrant Lake$13M
Jul 15, 1995Thunderstorm WindCountywide$10M
Jun 13, 2005Flash FloodChestertown$7M
Oct 31, 2019Flash FloodSabbathday Pt$2M
Jan 13, 2018FloodWarrensburg$1M
Apr 28, 2011FloodLake Vanare$676K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 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 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Warren County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 57 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
2011most recent: Irene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph57 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 55 mph64 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph57 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 Warren County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (144 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.8 millionpaid on 116 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $981,626 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 Warren County

$267,400median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
59%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.9%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; 40,342 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
Saratoga CountyLow16
Washington CountyLow12
Essex CountyLow21
Hamilton CountyVery Low14

Common questions about Warren County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Warren County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Warren County, about $15.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $5 million.

How many federal disasters has Warren County had?

Warren County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in December 2019.

Is Warren County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 41st 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 Warren County?

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

NOAA records list 7 tornadoes in Warren County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 9, 1978. The weather service has also logged 54 hail reports and 95 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Warren County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Warren 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.