Photo: Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in New York City than in 84% of U.S. towns; 36,272 flood claims have been paid there
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New York City gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #248 of 758 in New York State. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 36,272 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 York City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What New York City 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 York City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in New York City, and New York City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #248 of 758 in New York State; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New York City’s residents live in 2,292 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York State town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, New York City has less expected damage per building than 67% of New York State towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, New York City has lower expected damage per building than 93% (#30 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $1.35B, is the 2nd largest of those 400 (after Los Angeles).
Does New York City flood? Yes: 36,272 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New York City, from FEMA’s records: 9.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
The 1978–80 bars are many small claims from the program’s first years (about $2,600 each in FEMA’s file).
- Hurricane Sandy15,578 claims · $1,296M
- Hurricane Irene1,815 claims · $22.6M
New York City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kings County (Brooklyn) only; FEMA publishes take-up by county.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New York City
Disasters that paid out in New York City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of New York), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida503 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved885 flood claims paid for it, $30.9M
- 2012Hurricane Sandy20,404 households applied for aid$14.0M aid approved15,578 flood claims paid for it, $1.30B
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene7 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1,815 flood claims paid for it, $22.6M
Household aid is matched by the city each registrant wrote; many New Yorkers wrote Brooklyn, Flushing or Staten Island instead of New York, so these counts cover only part of the city. The 2001 World Trade Center declarations are not natural disasters and are left out.
The five boroughs have had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. 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 York City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New York City archive →Where in New York City FEMA expects the most damage
The citywide figure averages very different places. Almost no New Yorker lives in a census tract in the national top fifth for expected building damage; coastal flooding, under 2% citywide, is 30–40% of it in the Rockaways and Howard Beach.
| Borough | Residents | Damage per building vs U.S. towns | Main hazards (building) | Coastal flooding | Expected loss / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 2,736,074 | lower than 90% | river and rain flooding 72%, earthquakes 13% | 0.8% | $374M |
| Staten Island | 495,747 | lower than 89% | river and rain flooding 72%, hurricanes 12% | 3.3% | $82.0M |
| Manhattan | 1,694,251 | lower than 83% | river and rain flooding 82%, hurricanes 10% | 0.4% | $307M |
| Queens | 2,405,464 | lower than 81% | river and rain flooding 75%, hurricanes 10% | 3.0% | $376M |
| Bronx | 1,472,654 | lower than 76% | river and rain flooding 80%, hurricanes 10% | 1.4% | $212M |
Boroughs are the five counties; residents from the 2020 census. Expected loss counts buildings, people and crops, and the five add up to the city’s $1.35B.
| Neighborhood | Residents | Damage per building vs U.S. towns | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breezy Point–Belle Harbor–Rockaway Park–Broad ChannelQueens | 24,134 | lower than 72% | coastal flooding 40% (in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts) |
| Rockaway Beach–Arverne–EdgemereQueens | 41,367 | lower than 75% | coastal flooding 38% (in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts) |
| Howard Beach–LindenwoodQueens | 27,300 | lower than 73% | coastal flooding 30% (in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts) |
| Coney Island–Sea GateBrooklyn | 49,517 | lower than 88% | coastal flooding 16% (in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts) |
| Neighborhood | Residents | Damage per building vs U.S. towns | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsbridge–Marble HillBronx | 22,807 | higher than 67% | river and rain flooding 90% |
| Cambria HeightsQueens | 19,081 | higher than 65% | river and rain flooding 88% |
| Chelsea–Hudson YardsManhattan | 69,741 | higher than 61% | river and rain flooding 90% |
| Brooklyn HeightsBrooklyn | 25,092 | among the lowest | the lowest of the 197 neighborhoods |
Neighborhoods are New York City’s 2020 Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (197 with residents). Numbers only, no letters: grades are for towns.
New York City and its neighbors
New York City is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Hempstead | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 189 |
| New York City | 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 |
| Lawrence | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 387 |
| Hempstead | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 19,033 |
| Woodmere | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Inwood | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| University Gardens | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| South Valley Stream | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Elmont | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 York City 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 York City
Is New York City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New York City has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #248 of 758 in New York State. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New York City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36,272 claims in New York City since 1978, $1.46B in all, or 9.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4,511 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (15,578).
Is New York City 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 Kings County, 2.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in New York City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New York City’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 York City?
By FEMA money that reached New York City, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 20,404 households applied for aid, $14.0M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 15,578 paid, $1.30B.
Is New York City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and New York City’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Which parts of New York City have the most flood risk?
By FEMA’s model, coastal flooding concentrates in the Rockaways, Breezy Point and Howard Beach in Queens, and Coney Island in Brooklyn; the highest overall expected damage per building is in inland-flooding areas such as Kingsbridge–Marble Hill in the Bronx and Cambria Heights in Queens. See By borough above.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New York City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New York City’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.