New York natural disaster risk
New York ranks #40 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are riverine flooding, winter weather, strong wind.
RelocateMath computes these state means by weighting FEMA county scores by population. A mean of county percentiles is not a national state percentile or an official FEMA state rating.
The vertical line marks county-score scale midpoint (50).
Find your county's risk in New York
All 62 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings County | 2,631,580 | 99.3 | Relatively High |
| Queens County | 2,323,052 | 99.2 | Relatively High |
| New York County | 1,629,477 | 98.8 | Relatively High |
| Suffolk County | 1,530,146 | 97.3 | Relatively High |
| Bronx County | 1,404,779 | 98.3 | Relatively High |
| Nassau County | 1,389,591 | 97.1 | Relatively High |
| Westchester County | 999,677 | 96.2 | Relatively High |
| Erie County | 950,622 | 97.7 | Relatively High |
| Monroe County | 753,753 | 93.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Richmond County | 494,956 | 91.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| Onondaga County | 471,129 | 91.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Orange County | 406,616 | 90.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Rockland County | 341,883 | 88.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Albany County | 317,018 | 85.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Dutchess County | 298,220 | 88.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Saratoga County | 238,284 | 73.0 | Relatively Low |
| Oneida County | 229,124 | 86.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Niagara County | 210,721 | 83.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Broome County | 197,378 | 87.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ulster County | 182,601 | 87.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Schenectady County | 160,369 | 71.3 | Relatively Low |
| Rensselaer County | 160,332 | 82.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Chautauqua County | 125,544 | 84.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Oswego County | 117,953 | 67.6 | Relatively Low |
| Jefferson County | 115,040 | 64.0 | Relatively Low |
| Ontario County | 112,625 | 63.5 | Relatively Low |
| St. Lawrence County | 107,226 | 77.9 | Relatively Low |
| Tompkins County | 104,537 | 73.9 | Relatively Low |
| Putnam County | 98,107 | 39.8 | Very Low |
| Steuben County | 92,588 | 76.9 | Relatively Low |
| Wayne County | 90,929 | 56.3 | Relatively Low |
| Chemung County | 82,147 | 54.8 | Relatively Low |
| Sullivan County | 79,721 | 78.3 | Relatively Low |
| Clinton County | 78,493 | 68.8 | Relatively Low |
| Cattaraugus County | 76,145 | 81.6 | Relatively Moderate |
| Cayuga County | 75,102 | 61.5 | Relatively Low |
| Madison County | 67,328 | 59.4 | Relatively Low |
| Warren County | 65,517 | 62.3 | Relatively Low |
| Livingston County | 61,498 | 56.4 | Relatively Low |
| Columbia County | 61,100 | 68.7 | Relatively Low |
| Washington County | 60,522 | 56.6 | Relatively Low |
| Otsego County | 60,108 | 75.8 | Relatively Low |
| Herkimer County | 59,757 | 60.0 | Relatively Low |
| Genesee County | 57,787 | 56.1 | Relatively Low |
| Fulton County | 52,487 | 48.6 | Relatively Low |
| Montgomery County | 49,528 | 65.2 | Relatively Low |
| Tioga County | 47,864 | 59.9 | Relatively Low |
| Greene County | 47,409 | 68.3 | Relatively Low |
| Allegany County | 47,159 | 69.8 | Relatively Low |
| Franklin County | 46,696 | 48.9 | Relatively Low |
| Chenango County | 46,321 | 72.3 | Relatively Low |
| Cortland County | 46,246 | 51.2 | Relatively Low |
| Delaware County | 44,487 | 83.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Wyoming County | 39,753 | 41.3 | Very Low |
| Orleans County | 39,608 | 17.9 | Very Low |
| Essex County | 36,973 | 62.7 | Relatively Low |
| Seneca County | 32,920 | 41.8 | Very Low |
| Schoharie County | 30,049 | 41.3 | Very Low |
| Lewis County | 26,607 | 24.7 | Very Low |
| Yates County | 24,526 | 46.6 | Relatively Low |
| Schuyler County | 17,562 | 16.3 | Very Low |
| Hamilton County | 5,089 | 15.1 | Very Low |
The county rows show FEMA's own county percentile scores and rating categories; the state figures above are our weighted means. County data cannot establish a property's safety. Expected loss is modeled annual loss per resident, not a premium quote. The insurance figure is what owners with a mortgage reported paying in 2024 (Census American Community Survey), not a current quote. For a specific home, check the address on FEMA's flood map and get insurance quotes before you commit. Our guide explains how to check natural disaster risk before you move.
Lowest FEMA county risk scores in New York
- Orleans County 17.9
- Lewis County 24.7
- Putnam County 39.8
- Wyoming County 41.3
- Schoharie County 41.3
- Seneca County 41.8
- Yates County 46.6
- Fulton County 48.6
Cities in New York
- New York, NY county-score mean 96.8
- Buffalo, NY county-score mean 95.1
- Rochester, NY county-score mean 82.3
- Albany, NY county-score mean 77.8
- Poughkeepsie, NY county-score mean 89.6
- Syracuse, NY county-score mean 83.8
Frequently asked questions
Is New York safe from natural disasters?
New York's population-weighted county-score mean is 91.5 out of 100 (very high county-score mean), #40 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. About 65% of residents live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in New York?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in New York are riverine flooding, winter weather, strong wind (means 95, 90, 89 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in New York?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Orleans County, Lewis County, Putnam County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.