Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, East Hampton faces less hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Hampton gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #100 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 587 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 East Hampton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What East Hampton 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 East Hampton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in East Hampton, and East Hampton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #100 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
East Hampton’s residents live in 11 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, East Hampton has less expected damage per building than 87% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.6M a year in losses across East Hampton: $10.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does East Hampton flood? Yes: 587 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in East Hampton, from FEMA’s records: 26.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy129 claims · $3.2M
- The March 2010 nor’easter88 claims · $706K
- The Torrential rain81 claims · $1.0M
East Hampton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Suffolk County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to East Hampton
Disasters that paid out in East Hampton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of East Hampton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$8K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$3K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$159K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$2.1M to the Town of East Hampton for repairs129 flood claims paid for it, $3.2M
- 2011Hurricane Irene$89K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$111K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$29K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding Assoc W Td Ida and Nor’easter$121K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$103K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$82K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$4K to the Town of East Hampton for repairs
Suffolk County has had 26 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.
Old photos of East Hampton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the East Hampton archive →East Hampton and its neighbors
East Hampton is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter Island | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Southold | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 850 |
| East Hampton | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 587 |
| Southampton | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 2,567 |
| Wainscott | — | 612 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Northwest Harbor | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Sagaponack | — | 303 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Shelter Island Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Noyack | — | 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 East Hampton 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 East Hampton
Is East Hampton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Hampton has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #100 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does East Hampton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 587 claims in East Hampton since 1978, $8.7M in all, or 26.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 64 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (129).
Is East Hampton 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 Suffolk County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in East Hampton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for East Hampton’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 East Hampton?
By FEMA money that reached East Hampton, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $2.1M to the Town of East Hampton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 129 paid, $3.2M.
Is East Hampton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and East Hampton’s rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in East Hampton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where East Hampton’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.