Natural hazards · Westerlo

Westerlo, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Westerlo comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1996. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Westerlo?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Westerlo to be higher than in 29% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding75%Tornadoes8%Hurricanes5%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Westerlo faces

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

Inland flooding

75% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 54% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

8% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 43% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 71 years in the area

Hurricanes

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 19 years in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat 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 Westerlo flood?

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

3paid claims since 1996

$23Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19962026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 2 claims, $19K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Albany County.

Disasters that hit Westerlo

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WesterloDeclared for Albany County only

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$20K to the Town of Westerlo for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

27 households applied for aid $59K aid approved $711K to the Town of Westerlo for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm

$79K to the Town of Westerlo for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

$55K to the Town of Westerlo for repairs

2003

Snow

$8K to the Town of Westerlo for repairs

2002

Snowstorms

$22K to the Town of Westerlo for repairs

Albany County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and hurricanes.

Around Westerlo

Westerlo and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Rensselaervillemostly inland floodingHigh

Bernemostly inland floodingModerate

Greenvillemostly inland floodingLow

Westerlomostly inland floodingLow

Coeymansmostly inland floodingLow

New Scotlandmostly 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. Westerlo covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Westerlo’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Westerlo. 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 Westerlo total about $928K 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.