Photo: The original uploader was Daniel Case at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Blooming Grove than in 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blooming Grove gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #419 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 135 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Blooming Grove’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Blooming Grove faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Blooming Grove’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blooming Grove, and Blooming Grove’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B #419 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Blooming Grove’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Blooming Grove has more expected damage per building than 55% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Blooming Grove: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blooming Grove flood? Yes: 135 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Blooming Grove, from FEMA’s records: 20.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene38 claims · $1.5M
- Hurricane Floyd18 claims · $166K
Blooming Grove isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orange County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Blooming Grove
Disasters that paid out in Blooming Grove itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Blooming Grove), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1 households applied for aid$358K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $308K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1 households applied for aid$97K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$1K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene19 households applied for aid$91K aid approved$788K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs38 flood claims paid for it, $1.5M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$31K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding1 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$192K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
Show all 11
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$62K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 2003Snow$45K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$39K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$394K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs18 flood claims paid for it, $166K
Orange County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Orange County, 1999–2024.
Old photos of Blooming Grove after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Blooming Grove archive →Blooming Grove and its neighbors
Blooming Grove is 8th of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goshen | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Woodbury | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| New Windsor | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Monroe | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Chester | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 85 |
| South Blooming Grove | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Hamptonburgh | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Blooming Grove | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 135 |
| Cornwall | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Woodbury | — | not graded yet | |
| Mountain Lodge Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Blooming Grove faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Blooming Grove
Is Blooming Grove at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blooming Grove has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #419 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Blooming Grove flood?
Flood insurance has paid 135 claims in Blooming Grove since 1978, $2.6M in all, or 20.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (38).
Is Blooming Grove in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Orange County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Blooming Grove?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blooming Grove’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Blooming Grove?
By FEMA money that reached Blooming Grove, Hurricane Irene (2011): 19 households applied for aid, $91K approved, and $788K to the Town of Blooming Grove for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 38 paid, $1.5M.
Is Blooming Grove at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Blooming Grove’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blooming Grove.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blooming Grove’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.