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Downtown Croton Falls, NYPhoto: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in North Salem · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in North Salem than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Salem gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #269 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1980.

River and rain flooding 84%Hurricanes 8%Earthquakes 5%

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

less than 82%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#269 of 758 in New York
Hazard risk
A−#269 of 758
in New York · lower than 82% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
84% of expected building damage
Flood claims
10
paid since 1980 · $71K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
9
of 23 declared for Westchester County

What stands out about North Salem’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 82% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Landslides: the top 3% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for landslides here ranks in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts; it is 0.4% of the damage it expects.
By hazard

What North Salem 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

84%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

8%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 8 years in the area

Earthquakes

5%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Ice storms Landslides top 3% Wildfire Winter storms Lightning Hail Cold waves Heat waves
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind North Salem’s grade

River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in North Salem, and North Salem’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).

Where North Salem sits
North Salem
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #269 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of North Salem’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding84%Hurricanes8%Earthquakes5%Everything else3%

The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, North Salem has less expected damage per building than 65% of New York towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across North Salem: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of North Salem’s 5,243 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract. FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does North Salem flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1980

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in North Salem, from FEMA’s records: 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1980: 2 claims1981: 1 claim1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 1 claim1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 1 claim2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 2 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198019812007
19802026
Biggest named events
  • The April 2007 nor’easter2 claims · $18K
  • Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $8K
10
paid claims since 1980
$71K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$7K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

North Salem 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.
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to North Salem

Disasters that paid out in North Salem itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of North Salem), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$54K to the Town of North Salem for repairs
  2. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida14 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
  3. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$154K to the Town of North Salem for repairs
  4. 2012Hurricane Sandy33 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$241K to the Town of North Salem for repairs
  5. 2011Hurricane Irene34 households applied for aid$82K aid approved$129K to the Town of North Salem for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  6. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding8 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$62K to the Town of North Salem for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
  1. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$71K to the Town of North Salem for repairs
  2. 2003Snow$33K to the Town of North Salem for repairs
  3. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$271K to the Town of North Salem for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $8K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in North SalemWestchester County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of North Salem after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the North Salem archive →
Next door

North Salem and its neighbors

North Salem is 4th of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Somers: hazard risk ALewisboro: hazard risk ASoutheast: hazard risk ARidgefield: hazard risk B+Ridgebury: not gradedWest Mountain: not gradedSomersLewisboroSoutheastRidgefieldRidgeburyWest MountainNorth Salem
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
SomersAless damage than 92%river and rain flooding28
LewisboroAless damage than 92%river and rain flooding21
SoutheastAless damage than 85%river and rain flooding5
North SalemA−less damage than 82%river and rain flooding10
RidgefieldB+less damage than 65%river and rain flooding46
Ridgebury—a Census area inside a town; graded with the town
West Mountain—387 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what North Salem faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in North Salem

Is North Salem at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Salem has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #269 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (8%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does North Salem flood?

Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in North Salem since 1980, $71K in all, or 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (2).

Is North Salem 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 North Salem?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for North Salem’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 North Salem?

By FEMA money that reached North Salem, Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations (1999): $271K to the Town of North Salem for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $18K.

Is North Salem at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and North Salem’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in North Salem.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where North Salem’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.