Photo: AITFFan1 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Old Westbury’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Old Westbury gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #50 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then earthquakes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1980.
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 Old Westbury 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
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 Old Westbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Old Westbury, and Old Westbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 14% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #50 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Old Westbury’s residents live in 4 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, Old Westbury has less expected damage per building than 94% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Old Westbury: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Old Westbury flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Old Westbury, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Gloria1 claim · $2K
Old Westbury isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Nassau County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Old Westbury
Disasters that paid out in Old Westbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Old Westbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida22 households applied for aid$37K aid approved$275K to the Village of Old Westbury for repairs
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$188K to the Village of Old Westbury for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy107 households applied for aid$26K aid approved$2.0M to the Village of Old Westbury for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene1 households applied for aid$170 aid approved$63K to the Village of Old Westbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$17K to the Village of Old Westbury for repairs
Nassau County has had 22 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 Old Westbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Old Westbury archive →Old Westbury and its neighbors
Old Westbury is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookville | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Old Westbury | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Westbury | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Mineola | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| East Hills | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| North Hempstead | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 189 |
| Oyster Bay | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 4,654 |
| Roslyn Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Jericho | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| New Cassel | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Carle Place | — | 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 Old Westbury 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.
- 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 Old Westbury
Is Old Westbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Old Westbury has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #50 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and earthquakes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Old Westbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Old Westbury since 1980, $20K in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Gloria (1).
Is Old Westbury 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 Nassau County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Old Westbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Old Westbury’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 Old Westbury?
By FEMA money that reached Old Westbury, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 107 households applied for aid, $26K approved, and $2.0M to the Village of Old Westbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Gloria: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Old Westbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Old Westbury’s rate for it is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Old Westbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Old Westbury’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.