Photo: Intelligentlove at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA puts Patchogue’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Patchogue gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #191 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 312 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 Patchogue’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Patchogue 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
Coastal flooding
Earthquakes
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 Patchogue’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Patchogue, and Patchogue’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 11%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
A #191 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Patchogue’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, Patchogue has less expected damage per building than 75% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Patchogue: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Patchogue flood? Yes: 312 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Patchogue, from FEMA’s records: 53.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy172 claims · $12.0M
- Hurricane Irene35 claims · $881K
- The Torrential rain14 claims · $184K
Patchogue 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Patchogue
Disasters that paid out in Patchogue itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Patchogue), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida81 households applied for aid$39K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$249K to the Village of Patchogue for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$57K to the Village of Patchogue for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy507 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$1.7M to the Village of Patchogue for repairs172 flood claims paid for it, $12.0M
- 2011Hurricane Irene48 households applied for aid$60K aid approved$99K to the Village of Patchogue for repairs35 flood claims paid for it, $881K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$20K to the Village of Patchogue for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$9K to the Village of Patchogue for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$17K to the Village of Patchogue for repairs
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.
Old photos of Patchogue after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Patchogue archive →Patchogue and its neighbors
Patchogue has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patchogue | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 312 |
| Blue Point | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| North Patchogue | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| East Patchogue | — | 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 Patchogue 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.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Patchogue
Is Patchogue at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Patchogue has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #191 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Patchogue flood?
Flood insurance has paid 312 claims in Patchogue since 1978, $14.6M in all, or 53.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 41 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (172).
Is Patchogue 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 Patchogue?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Patchogue’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 Patchogue?
By FEMA money that reached Patchogue, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 507 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved, and $1.7M to the Village of Patchogue for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 172 paid, $12.0M.
Is Patchogue at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Patchogue’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Patchogue.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Patchogue’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.