Photo: Copperhead7 · CC BY 3.0FEMA puts Harrison’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, Harrison gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #191 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 777 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 Harrison’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Harrison 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 Harrison’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harrison, and Harrison’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
A #191 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Harrison’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, Harrison has less expected damage per building than 75% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.2M a year in losses across Harrison: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Harrison flood? Yes: 777 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Harrison, from FEMA’s records: 80.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida151 claims · $7.6M
- The April 2007 nor’easter80 claims · $1.5M
Harrison 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Harrison
Disasters that paid out in Harrison itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Harrison), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida495 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved151 flood claims paid for it, $7.6M
- 2012Hurricane Sandy49 households applied for aid$11K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene35 households applied for aid$89K aid approved54 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding186 households applied for aid$415K aid approved$41K to the Village of Harrison for repairs98 flood claims paid that year
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 Harrison after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Harrison archive →Harrison and its neighbors
Harrison is 3rd of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Plains | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 127 |
| Scarsdale | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 403 |
| Harrison | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 777 |
| North Castle | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Rye Brook | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 250 |
| Mamaroneck | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 524 |
| Rye | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1,566 |
| Mamaroneck | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1,767 |
| Rye | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 786 |
| Harrison | — | not graded yet | |
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 Harrison 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 Harrison
Is Harrison at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrison has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #191 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Harrison flood?
Flood insurance has paid 777 claims in Harrison since 1978, $12.8M in all, or 80.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (151).
Is Harrison 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 Harrison?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Harrison’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 Harrison?
By FEMA money that reached Harrison, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 495 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 151 paid, $7.6M.
Is Harrison at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Harrison’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harrison.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Harrison’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.