Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Minisink than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Minisink gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #368 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 6 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 Minisink 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 Minisink’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Minisink, and Minisink’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #368 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Minisink’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Minisink has less expected damage per building than 52% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Minisink: $877K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Minisink flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Minisink, from FEMA’s records: 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $19K
Minisink 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Minisink
Disasters that paid out in Minisink itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Minisink), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$624K to the Town of Minisink for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$2.7M to the Town of Minisink for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$28K to the Town of Minisink for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$79K to the Town of Minisink for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$194K to the Town of Minisink for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $19K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$137K to the Town of Minisink for repairs
Show all 11
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Town of Minisink for repairs
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$213K to the Town of Minisink for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Minisink for repairs
- 2003Snow$13K to the Town of Minisink for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$25K to the Town of Minisink 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 Minisink after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Minisink archive →Minisink and its neighbors
Minisink is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wawayanda | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Minisink | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Warwick | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
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 Minisink 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 Minisink
Is Minisink at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Minisink has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #368 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (13%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Minisink flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Minisink since 1978, $32K in all, or 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (2).
Is Minisink 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 Minisink?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Minisink’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 Minisink?
By FEMA money that reached Minisink, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): $2.7M to the Town of Minisink for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 2 paid, $19K.
Is Minisink at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Minisink’s rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Minisink.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Minisink’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.