Photo: Former Wikipedia user Wikilagata (C.C. Sabathia) · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Carmel than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carmel gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #87 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%). Flood insurance has paid 77 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 Carmel’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Carmel 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
Earthquakes
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 Carmel’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Carmel, and Carmel’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
A #87 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Carmel’s residents live in 8 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, Carmel has less expected damage per building than 89% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.7M a year in losses across Carmel: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Carmel flood? Sometimes: 77 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Carmel, from FEMA’s records: 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd5 claims · $19K
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $15K
Carmel isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Putnam County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Carmel
Disasters that paid out in Carmel itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Carmel), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$3.1M to the Town of Carmel for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$20K to the Town of Carmel for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $124K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$564K to the Town of Carmel for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy87 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$424K to the Town of Carmel for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $7K
- 2011Hurricane Irene120 households applied for aid$255K aid approved$169K to the Town of Carmel for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $15K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$52K to the Town of Carmel for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$92K to the Town of Carmel for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$511K to the Town of Carmel for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $19K
Putnam County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Carmel after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Carmel archive →Carmel and its neighbors
Carmel is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Carmel | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Somers | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Southeast | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Putnam Valley | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Mahopac | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Lake Carmel | — | 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 Carmel 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Carmel
Is Carmel at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carmel has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #87 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Carmel flood?
Flood insurance has paid 77 claims in Carmel since 1978, $512K in all, or 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (5).
Is Carmel 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 Putnam County, 63% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Carmel?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Carmel’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 Carmel?
By FEMA money that reached Carmel, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): $3.1M to the Town of Carmel for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 5 paid, $19K.
Is Carmel at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Carmel’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Carmel.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Carmel’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.