Pauline Felix House · Photo: DanTD · CC BY-SA 3.0For coastal flooding, Long Beach’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Beach gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #505 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then coastal flooding (20%). Flood insurance has paid 7,672 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 Long Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Long Beach 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
Coastal 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 Long Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Long Beach, and Long Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 20%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #505 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Long Beach’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, Long Beach has more expected damage per building than 67% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.2M a year in losses across Long Beach: $7.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Long Beach flood? Yes: 7,672 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Long Beach, from FEMA’s records: 461.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy5,434 claims · $407M
- Hurricane Irene702 claims · $12.2M
- The December Storm - nor’easter429 claims · $4.4M
Long Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Nassau County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Long Beach
Disasters that paid out in Long Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Long Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$87K to the City of Long Beach for repairs62 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida96 households applied for aid$10K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$187K to the City of Long Beach for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy15,849 households applied for aid$74.4M aid approved$232M to the City of Long Beach for repairs5,434 flood claims paid for it, $407M
- 2011Hurricane Irene414 households applied for aid$787K aid approved$1.6M to the City of Long Beach for repairs702 flood claims paid for it, $12.2M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$194K to the City of Long Beach for repairs60 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding Assoc W Td Ida and Nor’easter$63K to the City of Long Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$41K to the City of Long Beach for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
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 Long Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Long Beach archive →Long Beach and its neighbors
Long Beach is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 387 |
| Long Beach | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 7,672 |
| Lido Beach | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Barnum Island | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| East Atlantic Beach | — | 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 Long Beach 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Long Beach residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Long Beach
Is Long Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Beach has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #505 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and coastal flooding (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Long Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7,672 claims in Long Beach since 1978, $433M in all, or 461.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 897 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (5,434).
Is Long Beach 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 Long Beach?
Long Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Long Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Long Beach, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 15,849 households applied for aid, $74.4M approved, and $232M to the City of Long Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 5,434 paid, $407M.
Is Long Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Long Beach’s rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Long Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Long Beach’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.