riskbycounty
FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Ulster County Disaster Risk

Ulster County, New York

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

88th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#15

of 62 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

92th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 81% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Ulster County, New York

Ulster County's Elevated Risk Status

Ulster County scores 87.69 with a Relatively Moderate rating, substantially exceeding New York's state average of 69.42 by 18 points. The county faces serious multi-hazard exposure, with extremely high tornado (87.56), flood (91.89), and hurricane (86.86) risks.

Second-Highest Risk in New York

Ulster County's composite score of 87.69 ranks it as New York's second-riskiest county, surpassed only by Suffolk County (97.33). Its tornado exposure (87.56) is the highest among all counties in this dataset, paired with exceptional flood and hurricane vulnerabilities.

Significantly Higher Than Regional Peers

Ulster County's 87.69 score substantially exceeds all neighboring counties in this analysis, including Sullivan (78.28), Steuben (76.88), and Tompkins (73.86). Only Suffolk County's extreme 97.33 score surpasses it, making Ulster the region's second-most hazardous location.

Tornadoes, Floods, and Hurricanes

Ulster County faces extreme tornado risk at 87.56 (the highest in this dataset), compounded by severe flood risk (91.89) and elevated hurricane exposure (86.86). These triple threats reflect the county's Catskill Mountain geography and Hudson Valley positioning, creating variable but intense storm activity.

Comprehensive Insurance Critical

Ulster County residents must secure robust tornado, hurricane wind, and flood insurance to protect against the county's severe multi-hazard exposure. Homes in valleys, near water bodies, and in exposed ridgeline areas face compounded risk and should prioritize structural reinforcement and emergency preparedness.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Ulster County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    FloodPrepare
    92th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    88th percentile
  3. #3
    HurricanePrepare
    87th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Ulster County

Risk Verdict

Ulster County registers a moderately elevated natural disaster risk, ranking at the 88th percentile across all U.S. counties. High composite risk signals that multiple hazard types are elevated simultaneously; planning for more than one scenario is important in Ulster County.

Hazard Breakdown

Flood risk is Ulster County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 92th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 88th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include hurricane (87th percentile), earthquake (81th percentile), wildfire (53th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Ulster County's dominant hazard is flooding, ranked at the 92th percentile nationally. In addition to flood insurance, residents should identify their nearest evacuation shelter and store key documents in waterproof containers. Alongside flooding, tornado exposure at the 88th percentile means households benefit from a multi-hazard preparedness plan rather than focusing on flood alone. Ulster County's county emergency management office publishes hazard-specific guidance tailored to local conditions; bookmarking that resource and the county's alert system is a practical first step for any household.

Regional Context

Ulster County falls 18.3 points above New York's typical county risk level, which means the hazard environment here is notably more demanding than the state baseline.

Is your household prepared for Ulster County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Ulster County, NY?
Ulster County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 88th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Ulster County?
Ulster County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (92th percentile), tornado (88th percentile), hurricane (87th percentile), earthquake (81th percentile), wildfire (53th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 92th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Ulster County risk compare to the New York average?
Ulster County's composite risk percentile is 88th, compared to the New York state average of 69th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Ulster County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in New York.
Is Ulster County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Ulster County's flooding risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Ulster County higher risk than average?
Ulster County's composite risk score of 88th percentile is above the New York state average of 69th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by flooding exposure (92th percentile), along with tornado and hurricane and earthquake and wildfire risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Broome County

New York

-0.2

Relatively Moderate

87th percentile

Dutchess County

New York

+0.6

Relatively Moderate

88th percentile

Rockland County

New York

+0.7

Relatively Moderate

88th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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