Saratoga County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Saratoga County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1988, most recently Hurricane Henri in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Saratoga County's highest-rated hazards are inland flooding, ice storm, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 56% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (6th 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. Saratoga County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1988, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (5), snowstorm (5), hurricane (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1988.
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 | 37.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 83.3 | 40 | 0 | $424K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 73.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 59.5 | 41 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 69.9 | 5 | 0 | $35K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 77.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 47.6 | 53 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 63 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 46.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 78.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 54.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 78.5 | 8 | 0 | $357K |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 59.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 31.3 | — | — | — |
| 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
Saratoga County ranks in the 6th 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 | 6th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 5th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 4th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 34th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 36th | 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 | 15th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 16th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 67.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 146 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 57 in 2016–20 vs 89 in 2021–25 (+56% — frequency increasing).
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 Saratoga County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Saratoga County, New York are inland flooding, ice storm, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Saratoga County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Saratoga County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1988, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Saratoga County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Saratoga County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Hurricane Henri in 2021.
How does Saratoga County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Rensselaer County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Fulton County, NY has the lowest (Relatively Low). Saratoga County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Saratoga County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Saratoga 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. Saratoga County's composite score of 73 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 73% of US counties.