Photo: Jim.henderson · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Mount Vernon than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Vernon gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #370 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then earthquakes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 82 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 Mount Vernon’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Mount Vernon 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
Earthquakes
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 Mount Vernon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mount Vernon, and Mount Vernon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 11% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #370 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mount Vernon’s residents live in 20 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 Vernon has less expected damage per building than 51% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.4M a year in losses across Mount Vernon: $7.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mount Vernon flood? Sometimes: 82 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mount Vernon, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida16 claims · $340K
- Hurricane Irene5 claims · $59K
Mount Vernon 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mount Vernon
Disasters that paid out in Mount Vernon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mount Vernon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$32K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,103 households applied for aid$3.5M aid approved$748K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $340K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy637 households applied for aid$174K aid approved$509K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene100 households applied for aid$144K aid approved$112K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $59K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$135K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding271 households applied for aid$374K aid approved$166K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2003Snow$59K to the City of Mount Vernon 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 Vernon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mount Vernon archive →Mount Vernon and its neighbors
Mount Vernon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Rochelle | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 752 |
| New York | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 36,272 |
| Yonkers | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 690 |
| Mount Vernon | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Eastchester | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Bronxville | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Pelham | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Pelham | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 116 |
| Pelham Manor | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
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 Vernon 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Mount Vernon
Is Mount Vernon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Vernon has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #370 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and earthquakes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mount Vernon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 82 claims in Mount Vernon since 1978, $1.0M in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (16).
Is Mount Vernon 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 Vernon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mount Vernon’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 Vernon?
By FEMA money that reached Mount Vernon, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,103 households applied for aid, $3.5M approved, and $748K to the City of Mount Vernon for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 16 paid, $340K.
Is Mount Vernon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Mount Vernon’s rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mount Vernon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mount Vernon’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.