Photo: Tyler A. McNeil · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Nassau’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nassau gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #668 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 68 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 Nassau 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 Nassau’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nassau, and Nassau’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #668 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nassau’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, Nassau has more expected damage per building than 88% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Nassau: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nassau flood? Sometimes: 68 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nassau, from FEMA’s records: 32.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy21 claims · $1.8M
- The December Storm - nor’easter14 claims · $190K
- Hurricane Irene8 claims · $301K
Nassau isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rensselaer County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Nassau
Disasters that paid out in Nassau itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Nassau), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$18K to the Town of Nassau for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$113K to the Town of Nassau for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $301K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$26K to the Town of Nassau for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$150K to the Town of Nassau for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$21K to the Town of Nassau for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$55K to the Town of Nassau for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2002Snowstorms$32K to the Town of Nassau for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$84K to the Town of Nassau for repairs
Rensselaer County has had 21 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 Nassau after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nassau archive →Nassau and its neighbors
Nassau is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand Lake | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Schodack | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Chatham | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Stephentown | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Nassau | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Nassau | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Nassau Lake | — | 830 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| East Nassau | — | 613 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 Nassau 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 Nassau
Is Nassau at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nassau has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #668 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Nassau flood?
Flood insurance has paid 68 claims in Nassau since 1979, $2.4M in all, or 32.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (21).
Is Nassau 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 Rensselaer County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Nassau?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nassau’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 Nassau?
By FEMA money that reached Nassau, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $150K to the Town of Nassau for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 21 paid, $1.8M.
Is Nassau at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Nassau’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nassau.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nassau’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.