FEMA puts Dobbs Ferry’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dobbs Ferry gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #64 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then earthquakes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 16 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 Dobbs Ferry 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
Earthquakes
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 Dobbs Ferry’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dobbs Ferry, and Dobbs Ferry’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 16% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #64 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dobbs Ferry’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, Dobbs Ferry has less expected damage per building than 92% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Dobbs Ferry: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dobbs Ferry flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dobbs Ferry, from FEMA’s records: 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter2 claims · $8K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $500K
Dobbs Ferry isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Westchester County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dobbs Ferry
Disasters that paid out in Dobbs Ferry itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Dobbs Ferry), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida128 households applied for aid$412K aid approved$2.1M to the Village of Dobbs Ferry for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $17K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$17K to the Village of Dobbs Ferry for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy70 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$115K to the Village of Dobbs Ferry for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $500K
- 2011Hurricane Irene11 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$27K to the Village of Dobbs Ferry for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$73K to the Village of Dobbs Ferry for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding17 households applied for aid$33K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$23K to the Village of Dobbs Ferry for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$7K to the Village of Dobbs Ferry for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $8K
Westchester County has had 23 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 Dobbs Ferry after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dobbs Ferry archive →Dobbs Ferry and its neighbors
Dobbs Ferry is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvington | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| Dobbs Ferry | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Orangetown | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 292 |
| Greenburgh | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 402 |
| Ardsley | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 229 |
| Hastings-on-Hudson | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
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 Dobbs Ferry 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Dobbs Ferry
Is Dobbs Ferry at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dobbs Ferry has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #64 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and earthquakes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Dobbs Ferry flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Dobbs Ferry since 1979, $594K in all, or 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (2).
Is Dobbs Ferry 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 Westchester County, 64% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Dobbs Ferry?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dobbs Ferry’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 Dobbs Ferry?
By FEMA money that reached Dobbs Ferry, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 128 households applied for aid, $412K approved, and $2.1M to the Village of Dobbs Ferry for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $8K.
Is Dobbs Ferry at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Dobbs Ferry’s rate for it is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dobbs Ferry.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dobbs Ferry’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.