Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in New Rochelle than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Rochelle gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #184 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 752 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 New Rochelle’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What New Rochelle 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 New Rochelle’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Rochelle, and New Rochelle’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A #184 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Rochelle’s residents live in 17 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, New Rochelle has less expected damage per building than 76% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.4M a year in losses across New Rochelle: $9.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Rochelle flood? Yes: 752 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Rochelle, from FEMA’s records: 22.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida136 claims · $6.9M
- The April 2007 nor’easter73 claims · $1.6M
New Rochelle 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Rochelle
Disasters that paid out in New Rochelle itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of New Rochelle), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$284K to the City of New Rochelle for repairs67 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,362 households applied for aid$4.5M aid approved$1.6M to the City of New Rochelle for repairs136 flood claims paid for it, $6.9M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$426K to the City of New Rochelle for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy636 households applied for aid$124K aid approved$5.1M to the City of New Rochelle for repairs35 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene109 households applied for aid$192K aid approved$230K to the City of New Rochelle for repairs47 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$434K to the City of New Rochelle for repairs35 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding711 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$1.7M to the City of New Rochelle for repairs99 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$31K to the City of New Rochelle for repairs
- 2003Snow$119K to the City of New Rochelle for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$76K to the City of New Rochelle for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
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 New Rochelle after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Rochelle archive →New Rochelle and its neighbors
New Rochelle is 3rd of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Hempstead | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 189 |
| Scarsdale | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 403 |
| New Rochelle | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 752 |
| New York | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 36,272 |
| Larchmont | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 381 |
| Mount Vernon | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Eastchester | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Mamaroneck | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 524 |
| 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 New Rochelle 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 New Rochelle
Is New Rochelle at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Rochelle has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #184 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Rochelle flood?
Flood insurance has paid 752 claims in New Rochelle since 1978, $18.6M in all, or 22.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 111 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (136).
Is New Rochelle 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 New Rochelle?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Rochelle’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 New Rochelle?
By FEMA money that reached New Rochelle, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,362 households applied for aid, $4.5M approved, and $1.6M to the City of New Rochelle for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 136 paid, $6.9M.
Is New Rochelle at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and New Rochelle’s rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Rochelle.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Rochelle’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.