Putnam County

New York — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

39.8

National percentile: 40th

Putnam County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 39.8, 40th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $20M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $20M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 98K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Landslide
Low $20K/yr
Hurricane
Low $1M/yr
Ice Storm
Medium $328K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Landslide Low 0.45 / yr $20K
Hurricane Low 0.12 / yr $1M
Ice Storm Medium 1.96 / yr $328K
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $999K
Strong Wind Medium 4.44 / yr $1M
Riverine Flood Low 0.86 / yr $14M
Winter Weather Low 14.53 / yr $120K
Heat Wave Low 5.63 / yr $544K
Lightning Low 29.32 / yr $306K
Coastal Flood Very Low 3.69 / yr $28K
Cold Wave Low 1.26 / yr $1M
Avalanche Very Low 0.01 / yr $225
Tornado Low 0.08 / yr $825K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $12K
Drought Very Low 1.07 / yr $5K
Hail Very Low 2.73 / yr $18K
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Putnam County?

Putnam County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 39.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 40th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Putnam County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Low, $20K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $1M EAL), Ice Storm (Medium, $328K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Putnam County compare to other New York counties?

Putnam County ranks #58 of 62 New York counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Putnam County's $20M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.