Checkerboard Inn · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Monroe than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monroe gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #228 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 52 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 Monroe’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Monroe 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 Monroe’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Monroe, and Monroe’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 16% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
A #228 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Monroe’s residents live in 7 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, Monroe has less expected damage per building than 70% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.2M a year in losses across Monroe: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Monroe flood? Sometimes: 52 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Monroe, from FEMA’s records: 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd7 claims · $49K
- Hurricane Irene7 claims · $257K
Monroe 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Monroe
Disasters that paid out in Monroe itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Monroe), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$185K to the Town of Monroe for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $8K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$428K to the Town of Monroe for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $257K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$4K to the Town of Monroe for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$26K to the Town of Monroe for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$29K to the Town of Monroe 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 Monroe after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Monroe archive →Monroe and its neighbors
Monroe is 4th of the 9 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 |
| Kiryas Joel | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Palm Tree | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Monroe | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Chester | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 85 |
| South Blooming Grove | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Blooming Grove | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 135 |
| Tuxedo | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Tuxedo | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Woodbury | — | not graded yet | |
| Walton Park | — | 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 Monroe 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 Monroe
Is Monroe at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monroe has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #228 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Monroe flood?
Flood insurance has paid 52 claims in Monroe since 1978, $428K in all, or 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (7).
Is Monroe 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 Monroe?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Monroe’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 Monroe?
By FEMA money that reached Monroe, Hurricane Irene (2011): $428K to the Town of Monroe for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 7 paid, $49K.
Is Monroe at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Monroe’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Monroe.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Monroe’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.