States › New York › Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County, New York
Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 29 Sep 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.
Rensselaer County, New York, has 809 weather events in the NCEI Storm Events record since 1950, most of them damaging wind.
That is 124.0 events per 100 square miles, in line with the New York figure of 120.3, and 50.5 per 10,000 residents against 28.6 statewide.
10 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 1 death and 115 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $24M and crop damage at $323K.
FEMA has designated the county in 29 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Hurricane Henri (emergency, 22 Aug 2021).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 475 claims since 1978, of which 328 were paid, totalling $5.8M (about $18K per paid claim). FEMA counts 571 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively Moderate" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively Low" ($49M a year across 18 hazards).
24 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 0 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.
Compared with New York and the United States
| Measure | Rensselaer County | New York | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 809 | 56,675 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 124.0 | 120.3 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 50.5 | 28.6 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 10 | 1,948 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 1 | 578 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $24M | $5.7B | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 3.0 | 8.8 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $18K | $40K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 10.2 | 10.1 | 16.1 |
County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.
Events by decade
Trend: 498 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 266 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.
Events by type
Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.
Largest recorded events
| Date | Event type | Group | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Oct 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 0 mph | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2002 | Hail | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | 75 | County |
| 20 Jun 2001 | High Wind | Wind | — | $25K | — | — | 11 | County |
| 8 Jul 2004 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 7 | County |
| 30 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 22 Apr 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | — | $20K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 22 Jun 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 1 Jul 2004 | Lightning | Lightning | — | $1K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 31 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 31 May 1998 | Tornado | Tornado | F2 | $10M | $200K | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1973 | Tornado | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 4 Jul 2001 | Lightning | Lightning | — | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Hail | Hail | 0.88 in | $1K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Aug 2002 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 4 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 19 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 11 Aug 2008 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $4.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 1999 | Flash Flood | Flood | — | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.
Federal disaster declarations
| Declared | Number | Type | Incident | Title | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 2021 | EM-3565 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri | Public assistance |
| 20 Mar 2020 | DR-4480 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3434 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 12 Jul 2017 | DR-4322 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Public assistance |
| 28 Oct 2012 | EM-3351 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy | Public assistance |
| 8 Sep 2011 | EM-3341 | Emergency | Severe Storm | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Public assistance |
| 31 Aug 2011 | DR-4020 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 18 Feb 2011 | DR-1957 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Public assistance |
| 4 Mar 2009 | DR-1827 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 18 Dec 2008 | EM-3299 | Emergency | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 1 Jul 2006 | DR-1650 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 30 Sep 2005 | EM-3262 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Public assistance |
| 19 Apr 2005 | DR-1589 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 3 Aug 2004 | DR-1534 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | — |
| 29 Aug 2003 | DR-1486 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Individual assistance |
| 23 Aug 2003 | EM-3186 | Emergency | Other | Power Outage | Public assistance |
| 25 Feb 2003 | EM-3173 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Snowstorms | Public assistance |
| 11 Sep 2001 | DR-1391 | Major disaster | Fire | Fires And Explosions | Public assistance |
| 11 Oct 2000 | EM-3155 | Emergency | Other | West Nile Virus | Public assistance |
| 21 Jul 2000 | DR-1335 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 19 Sep 1999 | DR-1296 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations | Individual assistance |
| 16 Jun 1998 | DR-1222 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Public assistance |
| 24 Jan 1996 | DR-1095 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 12 Jan 1996 | DR-1083 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Blizzard Of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) | Public assistance |
| 17 Mar 1993 | EM-3107 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Severe Blizzard | Public assistance |
| 10 Nov 1987 | DR-801 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm | Public assistance |
| 7 Aug 1978 | EM-3066 | Emergency | Toxic Substances | Chemical Waste, Love Canal | Public assistance |
| 3 Sep 1976 | DR-520 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Belle | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 20 Jul 1973 | DR-401 | Major disaster | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.
Flood insurance claims
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Amount paid | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 13 | $111,344 | $8,565 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | $3,058 | $3,058 |
| 2023 | 11 | 8 | $135,504 | $16,938 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2021 | 12 | 10 | $638,913 | $63,891 |
| 2019 | 5 | 4 | $118,793 | $29,698 |
| 2017 | 12 | 7 | $349,132 | $49,876 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2015 | 5 | 2 | $10,711 | $5,355 |
| 2014 | 8 | 2 | $2,976 | $1,488 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2012 | 7 | 4 | $501,031 | $125,258 |
| 2011 | 157 | 127 | $2,710,465 | $21,342 |
| 2010 | 2 | 2 | $15,965 | $7,983 |
| 2009 | 8 | 6 | $40,019 | $6,670 |
| 2008 | 28 | 23 | $337,839 | $14,689 |
| 2007 | 9 | 6 | $99,839 | $16,640 |
| 2006 | 4 | 3 | $15,331 | $5,110 |
| 2005 | 13 | 8 | $78,734 | $9,842 |
| 2004 | 2 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | 1 | $25,490 | $25,490 |
| 2002 | 2 | 1 | $592 | $592 |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 2000 | 16 | 8 | $46,857 | $5,857 |
OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).
National Risk Index
| Hazard (NRI) | Risk rating | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | $36,568,033 | |
| Tornado | $3,446,298 | |
| Hail | $2,499,033 | |
| Hurricane | $1,847,810 | |
| Strong wind | $1,275,576 | |
| Cold wave | $1,094,581 | |
| Lightning | $756,332 | |
| Earthquake | $568,253 | |
| Heat wave | $548,897 | |
| Ice storm | $239,699 | |
| Winter weather | $114,446 | |
| Wildfire | $13,979 | |
| Landslide | $7,864 | |
| Avalanche | $302 |
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.
Hurricane and tropical storm passes
| Storm | Year | Closest approach | Max wind while within 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isaias | 2020 | 91 mi | 52 mph |
| Irene | 2011 | 26 mi | 58 mph |
| Floyd | 1999 | 84 mi | 58 mph |
| Bertha | 1996 | 93 mi | 69 mph |
| Gloria | 1985 | 67 mi | 86 mph |
| David | 1979 | 42 mi | 46 mph |
| Belle | 1976 | 57 mi | 40 mph |
| Agnes | 1972 | 86 mi | 52 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1968 | 88 mi | 63 mph |
| Able | 1952 | 47 mi | 52 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1949 | 91 mi | 52 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1938 | 52 mi | 69 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1934 | 85 mi | 52 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1929 | 50 mi | 58 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1924 | 30 mi | 63 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1915 | 80 mi | 52 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1899 | 40 mi | 52 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1894 | 96 mi | 63 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1893 | 33 mi | 69 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1893 | 50 mi | 63 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1878 | 4 mi | 69 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1874 | 97 mi | 69 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1863 | 49 mi | 46 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1861 | 68 mi | 58 mph |
HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.
ZIP codes with flood claims
- 12180 138
- 12182 106
- 12144 81
- 12033 25
- 12198 20
- 12018 16
- 12090 15
- 12123 10
- 12028 6
- 12061 6
- 12140 6
- 12138 5
- 12156 5
- 12196 5
ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.
Questions and answers
How often does it hail in Rensselaer County, NY?
NCEI records 133 hail events in Rensselaer County since 1950, in 41 different years; that is about 1.7 recorded events a year. 13 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Rensselaer County had a tornado?
Yes. NCEI records 10 tornadoes in Rensselaer County since 1950, 3 of them rated (E)F2 or stronger. Tornado deaths recorded: 0.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Rensselaer County?
22 Aug 2021: Hurricane Henri, a emergency declaration for hurricane. The county appears in 29 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Rensselaer County, and how much was paid?
475 NFIP claims since 1978, 328 of them paid, for $5.8M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Rensselaer County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively Moderate" for overall risk, "Relatively Low" for expected annual loss, "Relatively Low" for social vulnerability and "Very High" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Rensselaer County compare with the rest of New York?
124.0 recorded events per 100 square miles against 120.3 statewide, and 3.0 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 8.8. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.
Provenance
Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 29 Sep 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 30 Sep 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.