Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Deerpark faces more hazard damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerpark gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #657 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 136 claims here since 1981.
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 Deerpark’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Deerpark 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 Deerpark’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Deerpark, and Deerpark’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
C #657 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Deerpark’s residents live in 2 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, Deerpark has more expected damage per building than 87% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Deerpark: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Deerpark flood? Yes: 136 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Deerpark, from FEMA’s records: 39.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain47 claims · $1.9M
- Hurricane Irene38 claims · $690K
- The April 2007 nor’easter9 claims · $126K
Deerpark 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Deerpark
Disasters that paid out in Deerpark itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Deerpark), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$45K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$126K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $74K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$957K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs38 flood claims paid for it, $690K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$38K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$202K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$422K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs48 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$188K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$15K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$27K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs
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 Deerpark after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Deerpark archive →Deerpark and its neighbors
Deerpark is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mount Hope | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lumberland | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Mamakating | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Deerpark | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Port Jervis | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
| Westfall Township | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Sparrow Bush | — | 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 Deerpark 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 Deerpark
Is Deerpark at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerpark has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #657 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Deerpark flood?
Flood insurance has paid 136 claims in Deerpark since 1981, $3.5M in all, or 39.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Torrential rain (47).
Is Deerpark 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 Deerpark?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Deerpark’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 Deerpark?
By FEMA money that reached Deerpark, Hurricane Irene (2011): $957K to the Town of Deerpark for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 47 paid, $1.9M.
Is Deerpark at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Deerpark’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Deerpark.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Deerpark’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.