Photo: Felton Davis · CC BY 2.0FEMA puts Glen Cove’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glen Cove gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #110 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 129 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 Glen Cove’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Glen Cove 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 Glen Cove’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Glen Cove, and Glen Cove’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #110 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Glen Cove’s residents live in 7 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, Glen Cove has less expected damage per building than 86% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Glen Cove: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Glen Cove flood? Yes: 129 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Glen Cove, from FEMA’s records: 11.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December Storm - nor’easter26 claims · $541K
- Hurricane Sandy24 claims · $1.6M
- Hurricane Ida7 claims · $147K
Glen Cove 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Glen Cove
Disasters that paid out in Glen Cove itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Glen Cove), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida240 households applied for aid$749K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $147K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy356 households applied for aid$208K aid approved24 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
- 2011Hurricane Irene15 households applied for aid$5K aid approved5 flood claims paid for it, $48K
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 Glen Cove after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Glen Cove archive →Glen Cove and its neighbors
Glen Cove is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Cliff | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| North Hempstead | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 189 |
| Glen Cove | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| Oyster Bay | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 4,654 |
| Lattingtown | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Glen Head | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Matinecock | — | 867 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Locust Valley | — | 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 Glen Cove 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 Glen Cove
Is Glen Cove at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glen Cove has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #110 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Glen Cove flood?
Flood insurance has paid 129 claims in Glen Cove since 1978, $3.3M in all, or 11.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 24 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (26).
Is Glen Cove 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 Glen Cove?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Glen Cove’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 Glen Cove?
By FEMA money that reached Glen Cove, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 240 households applied for aid, $749K approved. By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 26 paid, $541K.
Is Glen Cove at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Glen Cove’s rate for it is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Glen Cove.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Glen Cove’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.