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Ocean Beach, NY 11770, USA - panoramioPhoto: dans362 · CC BY 3.0
–Not graded
Natural hazards in Ocean Beach · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach isn’t graded for hazard risk: Ocean Beach has 24 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 938 claims here since 1978.

Flood claims
938
paid since 1978 · $57.7M
Flooded more than once
150
properties · 44 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
8
of 26 declared for Suffolk County
By hazard

What Ocean Beach faces

Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.

Coastal flooding

80%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts

River and rain flooding

16%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Hurricanes Earthquakes Tornadoes Strong wind Hail Wildfire Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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.
Flood insurance claims

Does Ocean Beach flood? Yes: 938 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ocean Beach, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 4 claims1979: 0 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 8 claims1985: 9 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 2 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 3 claims1991: 181 claims1992: 141 claims1993: 5 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 4 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 13 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 74 claims2006: 2 claims2007: 3 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 12 claims2012: 404 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 4 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 8 claims2018: 2 claims2019: 8 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 18 claims2024: 29 claims2025: 1 claim2026: 0 claims199119922012
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Sandy404 claims · $40.1M
  • The “Halloween” storm177 claims · $3.3M
  • The December Storm - nor’easter140 claims · $1.8M
938
paid claims since 1978
$57.7M
paid to owners
150
homes flooded more than once
$61K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
Each house = 3 homesFEMA “severe repetitive loss” (44)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Ocean Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Suffolk County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
48homes raised above flood level
Disasters

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ocean Beach

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

  1. 2014Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$18K to the Village of Ocean Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2012Hurricane Sandy349 households applied for aid$648K aid approved$15.0M to the Village of Ocean Beach for repairs404 flood claims paid for it, $40.1M
  3. 2011Hurricane Irene3 households applied for aid$71K to the Village of Ocean Beach for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $301K
  4. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$616K to the Village of Ocean Beach for repairs
  5. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$16K to the Village of Ocean Beach for repairs
  6. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$29K to the Village of Ocean Beach for repairs
Show all 8
  1. 2009Severe Storms and Flooding Assoc W Td Ida and Nor’easter$634K to the Village of Ocean Beach for repairs
  2. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$87K to the Village of Ocean Beach for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Ocean BeachSuffolk County only

Suffolk County has had 26 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Ocean Beach archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Ocean Beach 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 tide surges
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
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 ↗
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 Ocean Beach

Does Ocean Beach flood?

Flood insurance has paid 938 claims in Ocean Beach since 1978, $57.7M in all. 150 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (404).

Is Ocean Beach 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 Suffolk County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.4% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Ocean Beach?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ocean Beach’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 Ocean Beach?

By FEMA money that reached Ocean Beach, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 349 households applied for aid, $648K approved, and $15.0M to the Village of Ocean Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 404 paid, $40.1M.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ocean Beach.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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