Photo: Jondude11 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Nyack’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nyack gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #28 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then earthquakes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 62 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 Nyack’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Nyack 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
Coastal 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 Nyack’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nyack, and Nyack’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 95% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #28 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nyack’s residents live in 3 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, Nyack has less expected damage per building than 96% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Nyack: $862K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nyack flood? Sometimes: 62 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nyack, from FEMA’s records: 16.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene6 claims · $155K
- Hurricane Floyd5 claims · $132K
Nyack isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockland County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Nyack
Disasters that paid out in Nyack itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Nyack), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida87 households applied for aid$158K aid approved$1.3M to the Village of Nyack for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$27K to the Village of Nyack for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy271 households applied for aid$599K aid approved$3.9M to the Village of Nyack for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $2.0M
- 2011Hurricane Irene61 households applied for aid$108K aid approved$182K to the Village of Nyack for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $155K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Village of Nyack for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$66K to the Village of Nyack for repairs
Show all 9
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding40 households applied for aid$27K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$11K to the Village of Nyack for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$14K to the Village of Nyack for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $132K
Rockland County has had 21 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 Nyack after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nyack archive →Nyack and its neighbors
Nyack 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Nyack | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Nyack | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 62 |
| Mount Pleasant | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 162 |
| Clarkstown | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 724 |
| Orangetown | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 292 |
| Sleepy Hollow | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Valley Cottage | — | 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 Nyack 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Nyack
Is Nyack at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nyack has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #28 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and earthquakes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Nyack flood?
Flood insurance has paid 62 claims in Nyack since 1978, $2.5M in all, or 16.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (6).
Is Nyack 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 Rockland County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Nyack?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nyack’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 Nyack?
By FEMA money that reached Nyack, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 271 households applied for aid, $599K approved, and $3.9M to the Village of Nyack for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 6 paid, $155K.
Is Nyack at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Nyack’s rate for it is lower than 95% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nyack.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nyack’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.