Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Mount Kisco than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Kisco gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #356 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 41 claims here since 1979.
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 Mount Kisco’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Mount Kisco 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
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 Mount Kisco’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mount Kisco, and Mount Kisco’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #356 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mount Kisco’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, Mount Kisco has less expected damage per building than 53% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Mount Kisco: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mount Kisco flood? Sometimes: 41 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mount Kisco, from FEMA’s records: 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene8 claims · $382K
- Hurricane Ida8 claims · $910K
- Hurricane Floyd8 claims · $846K
Mount Kisco isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Westchester County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mount Kisco
Disasters that paid out in Mount Kisco itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Mount Kisco), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida91 households applied for aid$133K aid approved8 flood claims paid for it, $910K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy67 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$304K to the Village of Mount Kisco for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene35 households applied for aid$60K aid approved$144K to the Village of Mount Kisco for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $382K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$38K to the Village of Mount Kisco for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding17 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$148K to the Village of Mount Kisco for repairs
Westchester County has had 23 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 Mount Kisco after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mount Kisco archive →Mount Kisco and its neighbors
Mount Kisco is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 143 |
| Bedford | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Mount Kisco | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
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 Mount Kisco 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Mount Kisco
Is Mount Kisco at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Kisco has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #356 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mount Kisco flood?
Flood insurance has paid 41 claims in Mount Kisco since 1979, $2.2M in all, or 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (8).
Is Mount Kisco 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 Westchester County, 64% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mount Kisco?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mount Kisco’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 Mount Kisco?
By FEMA money that reached Mount Kisco, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 67 households applied for aid, $7K approved, and $304K to the Village of Mount Kisco for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 8 paid, $382K.
Is Mount Kisco at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Mount Kisco’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mount Kisco.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mount Kisco’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.