Photo: Enesse Bhé · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Moriah as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Moriah gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #462 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2019.
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 Moriah 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
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 Moriah’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Moriah, and Moriah’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
B #462 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Moriah’s residents live in 2 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, Moriah has more expected damage per building than 61% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Moriah: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Moriah flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2019
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Moriah, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Moriah isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Moriah
Disasters that paid out in Moriah itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Moriah), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Flooding$1.3M to the Town of Moriah for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$923K to the Town of Moriah for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$88K to the Town of Moriah for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Town of Moriah for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene7 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$347K to the Town of Moriah for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$262K to the Town of Moriah for repairs
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$39K to the Town of Moriah for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$55K to the Town of Moriah for repairs
Essex County has had 19 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.
Old photos of Moriah after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Moriah archive →Moriah and its neighbors
Moriah is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addison | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Moriah | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Elizabethtown | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Westport | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Crown Point | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| North Hudson | — | 208 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Port Henry | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Panton | — | 690 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Moriah 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.
- 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 Moriah
Is Moriah at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Moriah has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #462 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Moriah flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Moriah since 2019, $53K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Moriah 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 Essex County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Moriah?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Moriah’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 Moriah?
By FEMA money that reached Moriah, Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2024): $1.3M to the Town of Moriah for repairs.
Is Moriah at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Moriah’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Moriah.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Moriah’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.