Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Cornwall as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cornwall gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #470 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 29 claims here since 1979.
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 Cornwall 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 Cornwall’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cornwall, and Cornwall’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B #470 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cornwall’s residents live in 3 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, Cornwall has more expected damage per building than 62% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Cornwall: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cornwall flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cornwall, from FEMA’s records: 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene8 claims · $406K
- Hurricane Ida6 claims · $68K
- The Vermont/New York Flooding5 claims · $118K
Cornwall 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 Cornwall
Disasters that paid out in Cornwall itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Cornwall), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$2.0M to the Town of Cornwall for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida53 households applied for aid$239K aid approved$1.4M to the Town of Cornwall for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $68K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee4 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene129 households applied for aid$270K aid approved$534K to the Town of Cornwall for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $406K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$4K to the Town of Cornwall for repairs
Show all 11
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding16 households applied for aid$18K aid approved$12K to the Town of Cornwall for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$39K to the Town of Cornwall for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$22K to the Town of Cornwall for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$21K to the Town of Cornwall for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$223K to the Town of Cornwall for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
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 Cornwall after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cornwall archive →Cornwall and its neighbors
Cornwall is 6th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| New Windsor | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Blooming Grove | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 135 |
| Fishkill | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| Philipstown | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Cornwall | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Highlands | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Woodbury | — | not graded yet | |
| Vails Gate | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| West Point | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Firthcliffe | — | 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 Cornwall 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 Cornwall
Is Cornwall at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cornwall has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #470 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cornwall flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Cornwall since 1979, $666K in all, or 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (8).
Is Cornwall 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 Cornwall?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cornwall’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 Cornwall?
By FEMA money that reached Cornwall, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): $2.0M to the Town of Cornwall for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 8 paid, $406K.
Is Cornwall at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Cornwall’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cornwall.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cornwall’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.