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Natural hazards · Amsterdam

Amsterdam, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Amsterdam comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1980. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations
Expected damage

How exposed is Amsterdam?

64
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Amsterdam to be higher than in 64% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding81%Cold waves7%Everything else13%
By hazard

What Amsterdam faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

81% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 46% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does Amsterdam flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Amsterdam, from FEMA’s records.

9paid claims since 1980
$269Kpaid to owners
1homes flooded more than once
19802026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Irene: 5 claims, $241K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Amsterdam isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

7flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
1flood-prone homes bought out and moved
Disasters that hit Amsterdam

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Amsterdam itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Amsterdam.

Brought FEMA money into AmsterdamDeclared for Montgomery County only
2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$27K to the City of Amsterdam for repairs
2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

3 households applied for aid $383 aid approved $30K to the City of Amsterdam for repairs
2011

Hurricane Irene

248 households applied for aid $713K aid approved $421K to the City of Amsterdam for repairs
2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

10 households applied for aid $4K aid approved $18K to the City of Amsterdam for repairs
2003

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

12 households applied for aid $6K aid approved
2002

Snowstorms

$42K to the City of Amsterdam for repairs
2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$50K to the City of Amsterdam for repairs
Montgomery County has had 20 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.
Around Amsterdam

Amsterdam and the towns around it

Amsterdam: Low, mostly inland floodingFlorida: Low, mostly inland floodingPerth: Very low, mostly inland floodingGlenville: Low, mostly inland floodingMohawk: High, mostly inland floodingCharlton: Very low, mostly inland floodingGlen: Moderate, mostly inland floodingCharleston: Low, mostly inland floodingDuanesburg: Very low, mostly inland floodingPrincetown: Low, mostly inland floodingRotterdam: Low, mostly inland floodingAmsterdam: High, mostly inland flooding AmsterdamAmsterdamFlorida
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Amsterdammostly inland floodingHigh
Floridamostly inland floodingLow
Amsterdammostly inland floodingLow
About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.
Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Amsterdam covers 8 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Amsterdam’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Amsterdam. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Amsterdam total about $5.9M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

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