FEMA puts Garden City’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden City gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #183 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then earthquakes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2010.
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 Garden City 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 Garden City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Garden City, and Garden City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 14% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
A #183 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Garden City’s residents live in 6 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, Garden City has less expected damage per building than 76% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.8M a year in losses across Garden City: $5.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Garden City flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Garden City, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Henri1 claim · $49K
Garden City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Nassau County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Garden City
Disasters that paid out in Garden City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Garden City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida80 households applied for aid$7K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$1.7M to the Village of Garden City for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy265 households applied for aid$70K aid approved$6.9M to the Village of Garden City for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene13 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$313K to the Village of Garden City for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$150K to the Village of Garden City for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$52K to the Village of Garden City for repairs
Show all 7
- 2003Snow$79K to the Village of Garden City for repairs
Nassau County has had 22 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 Garden City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Garden City archive →Garden City and its neighbors
Garden City is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hyde Park | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Stewart Manor | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| North Hempstead | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 189 |
| Garden City | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hempstead | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Hempstead | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 19,033 |
| Uniondale | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Garden City South | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| North New Hyde Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| West Hempstead | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Garden City Park | — | 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 Garden City 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 Garden City
Is Garden City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garden City has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #183 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and earthquakes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Garden City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Garden City since 2010, $54K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Henri (1).
Is Garden City 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 Nassau County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Garden City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Garden City’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 Garden City?
By FEMA money that reached Garden City, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 265 households applied for aid, $70K approved, and $6.9M to the Village of Garden City for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Henri: 1 paid, $49K.
Is Garden City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Garden City’s rate for it is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Garden City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Garden City’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.