Photo: Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Highlands 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, Highlands gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #552 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1979.
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 Highlands 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
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 Highlands’ grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Highlands, and Highlands’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #552 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Highlands’ residents live in 3 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, Highlands has more expected damage per building than 73% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.6M a year in losses across Highlands: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Highlands flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Highlands, 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.
Highlands isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orange County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Highlands
Disasters that paid out in Highlands itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Highlands), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$2.5M to the Town of Highlands for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$17K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$40K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$14K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$15K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
Show all 9
- 2003Snow$7K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$6K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$16K to the Town of Highlands for repairs
Orange County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Orange County, 1999–2024.
Old photos of Highlands after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Highlands archive →Highlands and its neighbors
Highlands is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Stony Point | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Philipstown | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Cornwall | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Highlands | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Woodbury | — | not graded yet | |
| West Point | — | 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 Highlands 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.
- 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 Highlands
Is Highlands at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Highlands has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #552 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Highlands flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Highlands since 1979, $270 in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Highlands 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 Orange County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Highlands?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Highlands’ 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 Highlands?
By FEMA money that reached Highlands, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): $2.5M to the Town of Highlands for repairs.
Is Highlands at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Highlands’ rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Highlands.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Highlands’ 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.