Putnam County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Putnam County has experienced 29 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Storms And Flooding in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Putnam County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, hurricane, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (12th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Putnam County has been designated in 29 declarations since 1965, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (11), severe storm (5), snowstorm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
Showing the 10 most recent of 29 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 19.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 57.4 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 40.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 65.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 47.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 29.8 | 2 | 0 | $350K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 73.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 4.7 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 58.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 54 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 68.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 39.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 43.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 19.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 77.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 33.6 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Putnam County ranks in the 12th percentile (Very low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 12th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 12th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 6th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 61st | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 23rd | Very low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 31st | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 32nd | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 72.8% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Putnam County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Putnam County, New York are landslide, hurricane, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Putnam County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Putnam County has received 29 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (11 declarations).
Has Putnam County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Putnam County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storms And Flooding in 2023.
How does Putnam County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Dutchess County, NY has the lowest (Relatively Moderate). Putnam County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Putnam County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Putnam County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Putnam County's composite score of 40 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 40% of US counties.