With increased oceanic and atmospheric temperatures, it is likely that residents will encounter increased precipitation, heatwaves, and substantial likelihood of extreme flood events. All residents should be aware of risks and know how to find information and help when flooding occurs.
Whether you live in the flood zone or not, being prepared for an emergency is important.
Visit this checklist to find important information before you take steps to repair your flooded home.
Visit floodsmart.gov to learn what your risks are and how to prepare and FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to know types of flood risk in your area. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
View your location relative to flood zones on maps published by FEMA. Enter your address in the Ulster County Parcel Viewer and under the heading ‘Map Layers – Water Resources’ click the button for ‘FEMA Adopted Flood Hazards.’ The map identifies different flood zones that indicate the probability a flood will occur within the zone in any given year. Zone AE is called the ‘100-year flood zone’ because this zone has at least a 1% chance of being inundated by floodwaters in any given year. While that may not sound like much risk, this rarer and deeper flood has a 26% chance of occurring over the life of your 30-year mortgage. Structures within this zone may also be at risk during shallower and more frequent floods.
To learn more about flood impact along the Hudson River, visit the Hudson River Flood Impact Decision Support System.
For owners and managers of public river access sites, visit the NYS DEC’s Flood Resiliency Handbook for guidelines to reduce damage, costs, and other consequences associated with the effects of climate change, and begin planning for resilience.
Homeowner’s insurance policies do NOT cover flooding. It is recommended that residents in flood-prone areas purchase or renew a flood insurance policy. Policies typically go into effect 30 days after purchase. To get more inforamtion or obtain a policy, visit floodsmart.gov or call y Get flood coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
For information and resources related to repairing your flooded home, visit Health.ny.gov.
MyCoast NY is a statewide portal used to collect and analyze photos of flooding, storm damage, and coastal change. When a photo report is submitted, it is automatically linked to data from the closest weather, river, and tidal or lake gauge to help provide context to the photo and is then posted to the website for anyone to see. Photo reports can be submitted through the app (iPhone / Android) or the website with a registered account. The three photo report types are:
- Flood Watch: Tracking flooding across the state. This includes inland and coastal flooding.
- Storm Reporter: Documenting storm damage across the state.
- Coast Snap: Capturing the changing shoreline- currently at three locations.
Use MyCoast as a repository for photos of flood and storm impacts that can help raise awareness, build political will, inform municipal planning and emergency management, and complement other data and mapping. MyCoast brings together community members, local officials, state agencies, researchers, and NGOs in sharing and using the information.
To learn more about MyCoast NY, contact Jessica Kuonen at jak546@cornell.edu.
Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program
The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) is a joint effort between Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. The three agencies work collaboratively to maintain the health of streams in the Ashokan Reservoir Watershed. The program aims to improve stream stability and reduce erosion threats to water quality and infrastructure, mitigate potential damage from flooding, and enhance aquatic and riparian habitat. AWSMP staff can work with Ashokan watershed landowners to determine flood risk and provide guidance on ways to reduce future damages. Streamside landowners are also eligible to participate in the Catskills Stream Buffers Initiative program offered to reduce erosion.
Following a flood, staff can provide guidance on safe debris and large wood removal and assist municipalities with the recovery effort. Visit www.ashokanstreams.org for more information.
Rondout Neversink Stream Management Program
Similar to the AWSMP, the Rondout Neversink Stream Management Program (RNSP) aims to protect and restore stream system stability and ecological integrity by providing for the long-term stewardship of streams and floodplains. Programs and grants focus on municipalities and private lands at the headwaters of the New York City Watershed supply in Town of Denning/Ulster County and Town of Neversink/Sullivan County. The rivers in this watershed include Upper Rondout Creek, Upper Neversink River, Chestnut Creek and their tributaries which feed Rondout and Neversink Reservoirs. RNSP has worked with streamside landowners to design and install streamside plantings that improve the health of local waterways and protect properties from hazardous erosion. This service is free to landowners, funded by NYC DEP to improve water quality.
Catskill Watershed Corporation
For landowners in the New York City Watershed, the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) offers a variety of flood mitigation programs to prevent flood damage to homes and businesses. Post-flood, the CWC may also make funding available for significant debris and large wood removal.