Photo: AITFFan1 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Oyster Bay than in 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oyster Bay gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #212 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 4,654 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 Oyster Bay’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Oyster Bay 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
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 Oyster Bay’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oyster Bay, and Oyster Bay’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 6%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A #212 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oyster Bay’s residents live in 65 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, Oyster Bay has less expected damage per building than 72% of New York towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Oyster Bay has lower expected damage per building than 94% (#26 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $63.6M, is the 193th largest of those 400.
Does Oyster Bay flood? Yes: 4,654 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oyster Bay, from FEMA’s records: 44.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy2,576 claims · $251M
- Hurricane Irene558 claims · $19.7M
- The December Storm - nor’easter371 claims · $6.6M
Oyster Bay 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oyster Bay
Disasters that paid out in Oyster Bay itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Oyster Bay), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida34 households applied for aid$29K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$3.4M to the Town of Oyster Bay for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy114 households applied for aid$76K aid approved$35.7M to the Town of Oyster Bay for repairs2,576 flood claims paid for it, $251M
- 2011Hurricane Irene19 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$2.9M to the Town of Oyster Bay for repairs558 flood claims paid for it, $19.7M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$643K to the Town of Oyster Bay for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$608K to the Town of Oyster Bay for repairs
Show all 9
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding Assoc W Td Ida and Nor’easter$40K to the Town of Oyster Bay for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$367K to the Town of Oyster Bay for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$36K to the Town of Oyster Bay for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
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 Oyster Bay after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oyster Bay archive →Oyster Bay and its neighbors
Oyster Bay is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyd Harbor | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Huntington | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 411 |
| North Hempstead | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 189 |
| Glen Cove | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| Oyster Bay | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 4,654 |
| Babylon | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 4,003 |
| Hempstead | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 19,033 |
| Levittown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Massapequa | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Hicksville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bethpage | — | 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 Oyster Bay 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.
- 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 Oyster Bay
Is Oyster Bay at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oyster Bay has lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #212 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oyster Bay flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4,654 claims in Oyster Bay since 1978, $288M in all, or 44.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 771 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (2,576).
Is Oyster Bay 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 Oyster Bay?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oyster Bay’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 Oyster Bay?
By FEMA money that reached Oyster Bay, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 114 households applied for aid, $76K approved, and $35.7M to the Town of Oyster Bay for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 2,576 paid, $251M.
Is Oyster Bay at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Oyster Bay’s rate for it is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oyster Bay.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oyster Bay’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.