Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Massapequa Park 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, Massapequa Park gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #450 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 444 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 Massapequa Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Massapequa Park 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 Massapequa Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Massapequa Park, and Massapequa Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B #450 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Massapequa Park’s residents live in 4 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, Massapequa Park has more expected damage per building than 59% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Massapequa Park: $3.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Massapequa Park flood? Yes: 444 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Massapequa Park, from FEMA’s records: 72.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy169 claims · $11.5M
- The Torrential rain54 claims · $329K
- The December Storm - nor’easter44 claims · $538K
Massapequa Park 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Massapequa Park
Disasters that paid out in Massapequa Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Massapequa Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida44 households applied for aid$553 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy417 households applied for aid$783K aid approved169 flood claims paid for it, $11.5M
- 2011Hurricane Irene18 households applied for aid$10K aid approved40 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
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 Massapequa Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Massapequa Park archive →Massapequa Park and its neighbors
Massapequa Park has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massapequa Park | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 444 |
| East Massapequa | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Massapequa | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| North Massapequa | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| South Farmingdale | — | 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 Massapequa Park 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 Massapequa Park
Is Massapequa Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Massapequa Park has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #450 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Massapequa Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 444 claims in Massapequa Park since 1978, $14.6M in all, or 72.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 42 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (169).
Is Massapequa Park 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 Massapequa Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Massapequa Park’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 Massapequa Park?
By FEMA money that reached Massapequa Park, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 417 households applied for aid, $783K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 169 paid, $11.5M.
Is Massapequa Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Massapequa Park’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Massapequa Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Massapequa Park’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.