Photo: Alexisrael · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Haverstraw faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haverstraw gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #537 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 35 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 Haverstraw 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
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 Haverstraw’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Haverstraw, and Haverstraw’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #537 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Haverstraw’s residents live in 8 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, Haverstraw has more expected damage per building than 71% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.6M a year in losses across Haverstraw: $6.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Haverstraw flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Haverstraw, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy6 claims · $266K
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $67K
Haverstraw isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockland County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Haverstraw
Disasters that paid out in Haverstraw itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Haverstraw), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$53K to the Town of Haverstraw for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$1.0M to the Town of Haverstraw for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $266K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$145K to the Town of Haverstraw for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $67K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$80K to the Town of Haverstraw for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$63K to the Town of Haverstraw for repairs
- 2003Snow$42K to the Town of Haverstraw for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$98K to the Town of Haverstraw for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $7K
Rockland County has had 21 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 Haverstraw after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Haverstraw archive →Haverstraw and its neighbors
Haverstraw is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkstown | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 724 |
| Croton-on-Hudson | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Cortlandt | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Ramapo | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 335 |
| Stony Point | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Haverstraw | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Haverstraw | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| New City | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Mount Ivy | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Thiells | — | 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 Haverstraw 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.
- 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 Haverstraw
Is Haverstraw at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haverstraw has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #537 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Haverstraw flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Haverstraw since 1978, $390K in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (6).
Is Haverstraw 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 Rockland County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Haverstraw?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Haverstraw’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 Haverstraw?
By FEMA money that reached Haverstraw, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $1.0M to the Town of Haverstraw for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 6 paid, $266K.
Is Haverstraw at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Haverstraw’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Haverstraw.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Haverstraw’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.