Photo: Anthony22 at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Eastchester than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Eastchester gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #395 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 114 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 Eastchester’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Eastchester 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 Eastchester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Eastchester, and Eastchester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #395 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Eastchester’s residents live in 9 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, Eastchester has more expected damage per building than 52% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.2M a year in losses across Eastchester: $5.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Eastchester flood? Yes: 114 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Eastchester, from FEMA’s records: 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida18 claims · $986K
- The April 2007 nor’easter12 claims · $161K
Eastchester 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Eastchester
Disasters that paid out in Eastchester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Eastchester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida162 households applied for aid$588K aid approved$155K to the Town of Eastchester for repairs18 flood claims paid for it, $986K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$228K to the Town of Eastchester for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy28 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$318K to the Town of Eastchester for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene22 households applied for aid$49K aid approved$105K to the Town of Eastchester for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $63K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$172K to the Town of Eastchester for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding96 households applied for aid$116K aid approved$106K to the Town of Eastchester for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2003Snow$73K to the Town of Eastchester for repairs
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 Eastchester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Eastchester archive →Eastchester and its neighbors
Eastchester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarsdale | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 403 |
| New Rochelle | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 752 |
| Yonkers | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 690 |
| Mount Vernon | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Eastchester | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Bronxville | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Tuckahoe | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
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 Eastchester 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 Eastchester
Is Eastchester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Eastchester has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #395 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Eastchester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 114 claims in Eastchester since 1978, $1.9M in all, or 8.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (18).
Is Eastchester 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 Eastchester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Eastchester’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 Eastchester?
By FEMA money that reached Eastchester, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 162 households applied for aid, $588K approved, and $155K to the Town of Eastchester for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 18 paid, $986K.
Is Eastchester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Eastchester’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Eastchester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Eastchester’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.