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Natural hazard risk in Dutchess County, New York

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 88.2 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$85.2 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1965
23[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$14.0 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
16[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Dutchess County an overall Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, with a score of 88.2 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are inland flooding, landslide and hurricane[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Dutchess County at $85.2 million a year[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. FEMA's sorted values show the largest shares come from inland flooding, hurricane and cold wave, in that order[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively Low (score 21.0)[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Relatively High (score 75.1)[10]. All ratings compare the county with other US counties[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$59.9 million[11]
LandslideRelatively Moderate$85,000[12]
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$10.2 million[13]
Strong WindRelatively High$2.4 million[14]
LightningRelatively High$1.3 million[15]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$3.0 million[16]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$1.6 million[17]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$206,000[18]
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$347,000[19]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$3.2 million[20]
HailRelatively Low$522,000[21]
TornadoRelatively Low$2.3 million[22]
WildfireVery Low$84,000[23]
Coastal FloodingRelatively Low$72,000[24]
AvalancheVery Low$471[25]
DroughtRelatively Low$115,000[26]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: tsunami, volcanic activity[27].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low21.0[9]
Community resilienceRelatively High75.1[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding Relatively Moderate for Risk Index (score 92.3) and Relatively High for Expected Annual Loss[11]. OpenFEMA lists 1,124 residential flood insurance contracts in force in Dutchess County as of 2026-08-03[28]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 31.3% of homes are insured[28]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims data shows 765 claims filed for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $14.0 million in total[3]. To learn the flood zone of an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[29].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[11] Relatively Moderate, $59.9 million expected loss a year
Coastal Flooding, FEMA risk rating[24] Relatively Low, $72,000 expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[28] 1,124 of 96,914 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[28] 2,455, of which 768 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 765 filed, $14.0 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[29]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 23 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dutchess County since 1965[2]. By incident type, hurricane has 7 and severe storm has 6[2]. The most recent listed is DR-4723-NY, Severe Storms And Flooding, declared 2023-07-22[30]. NOAA's tornado database records 16 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and the strongest were rated EF1[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dutchess County, since 1965
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 7
Severe Storm[2] 6
Snowstorm[2] 5
Flood[2] 3
Fire[2] 1
Drought[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4723-NY[30] Severe Storms And Flooding 2023-07-22
DR-4615-NY[30] Remnants Of Hurricane Ida 2021-09-05
EM-3572-NY[30] Remnants Of Hurricane Ida 2021-09-02
EM-3565-NY[30] Hurricane Henri 2021-08-22
DR-4322-NY[30] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2017-07-12

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Hurricanes

Before

  • Know your hurricane risk, including rain, wind and tornadoes far inland from landfall.
  • Learn your evacuation zone and routes, and practice them with your household and pets.
  • Keep insurance policies and ID current, with password-protected digital copies.
  • Clear drains and gutters, bring in outdoor furniture and consider hurricane shutters.
  • Keep your phone charged, buy backup chargers and gather supplies, including medication and pet supplies.

During

  • If you are in a mandatory evacuation zone and officials order an evacuation, leave right away.
  • For high winds, take shelter in a designated storm shelter or an interior room.
  • If you are trapped by flooding, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, hurricanes

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Questions people ask

Is Dutchess County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding Relatively Moderate for Risk Index compared with other US counties[11]. It is the largest source of Expected Annual Loss in the county[8]. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center shows flood maps for a specific address[29].
Does Dutchess County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 16 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[22].
Is Dutchess County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Low for Dutchess County compared with other US counties[16].
How many disasters have been declared in Dutchess County?
OpenFEMA lists 23 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1965[2].
How can I check the flood zone of a home in Dutchess County?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[29]. County ratings do not give the flood zone of one address[29].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Dutchess County is $85.2 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 89.3). Of this, buildings account for $74.7 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 23 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Dutchess County since 1965 (16 major disaster, 7 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 7, severe storm 6, snowstorm 5, flood 3, fire 1, drought 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 765 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Dutchess County, 609 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $14.0 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 16 recorded tornadoes touched Dutchess County. The strongest were rated EF1 (most recent of them on 2021-11-12). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2022-07-18. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Dutchess County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 88.2 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Dutchess County are inland flooding (92.3, Relatively Moderate), landslide (91.8, Relatively Moderate), hurricane (90.7, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Dutchess County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($59.9 million a year), hurricane ($10.2 million a year), cold wave ($3.2 million a year), out of $85.2 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Dutchess County is Relatively Low (score 21.0). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Dutchess County is Relatively High (score 75.1). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 92.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $59.9 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.93 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 91.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $85,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 90.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $10.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.1 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.4 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 3.53 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 88.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.3 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 29.08 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 84.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.0 million a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0015 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 77.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.6 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 5.86 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 76.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $206,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 14.43 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 75.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $347,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.52 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 75.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.77 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 64.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $522,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.87 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 63.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.3 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.25 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 57.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $84,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0003 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), coastal flooding in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 46.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $72,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 3.7173 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 46.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $471 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Dutchess County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 44.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $115,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.97 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  27. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Dutchess County: tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  28. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 1,124 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Dutchess County, out of 96,914 residential structures, a penetration rate of 1.2%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 2,455 residential structures and 768 contracts, a... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  29. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  30. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.