Less hazard damage per building is expected in Great Neck Plaza than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Great Neck Plaza gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #223 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 2019.
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 Great Neck Plaza 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 Great Neck Plaza’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Great Neck Plaza, and Great Neck Plaza’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A #223 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Great Neck Plaza’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, Great Neck Plaza has less expected damage per building than 71% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Great Neck Plaza: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Great Neck Plaza flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 2019
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Great Neck Plaza, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late-September New York Flooding1 claim · $342K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $757K
Great Neck Plaza 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Great Neck Plaza
Disasters that paid out in Great Neck Plaza itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Great Neck Plaza), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida3 households applied for aid$300 aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $757K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$12K to the Village of Great Neck Plaza for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$93K to the Village of Great Neck Plaza for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$5K to the Village of Great Neck Plaza for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the Village of Great Neck Plaza for repairs
- 2003Snow$13K to the Village of Great Neck Plaza 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 Great Neck Plaza after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Great Neck Plaza archive →Great Neck Plaza and its neighbors
Great Neck Plaza 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomaston | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Kensington | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Great Neck Plaza | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Great Neck Estates | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| University Gardens | — | 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 Great Neck Plaza 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 Great Neck Plaza
Is Great Neck Plaza at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Great Neck Plaza has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #223 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Great Neck Plaza flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Great Neck Plaza since 2019, $1.6M in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late-September New York Flooding (1).
Is Great Neck Plaza 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 Great Neck Plaza?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Great Neck Plaza’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 Great Neck Plaza?
By FEMA money that reached Great Neck Plaza, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $93K to the Village of Great Neck Plaza for repairs. By flood claims, Late-September New York Flooding: 1 paid, $342K.
Is Great Neck Plaza at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Great Neck Plaza’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Great Neck Plaza.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Great Neck Plaza’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.