Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2011. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 28% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding66%Hurricanes18%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Inland flooding

66% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 40% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

18% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 9 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Washington flood?

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

3paid claims since 2011

$31Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20112026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 1 claim, $17K
Tropical Storm Lee: 1 claim, $10K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Washington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Dutchess County.

Disasters that hit Washington

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for Dutchess County only

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

$34K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

$40K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$24K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$16K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$28K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

$55K to the Town of Washington for repairs

Dutchess County has had 22 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Washington

Washington and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Pleasant Valleymostly inland floodingHigh

Ameniamostly inland floodingHigh

Stanfordmostly inland floodingModerate

Clintonmostly inland floodingModerate

Washingtonmostly inland floodingLow

Union Valemostly 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. Washington covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Washington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Washington. 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 Washington total about $1.8M 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.