Photo: Cliffy from Pelham, USA · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Pelham as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pelham gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #558 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 116 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 Pelham’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pelham 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
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 Pelham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pelham, and Pelham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #558 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pelham’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, Pelham has more expected damage per building than 74% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.1M a year in losses across Pelham: $4.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pelham flood? Yes: 116 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pelham, from FEMA’s records: 26.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida38 claims · $1.3M
- The April 2007 nor’easter12 claims · $79K
Pelham isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Westchester County.The storms Pelham remembers
None of the 23 disasters declared for Westchester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Pelham itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 202141 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared for Westchester County
- 200713 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding, declared for Westchester County
- 202313 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storm and Flooding, declared for Westchester County
Westchester County has had 23 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 Pelham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pelham archive →Pelham and its neighbors
Pelham is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Rochelle | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 752 |
| New York | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 36,272 |
| Mount Vernon | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Pelham | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Pelham | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 116 |
| Pelham Manor | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
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 Pelham 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.
- 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 Pelham
Is Pelham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pelham has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #558 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pelham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 116 claims in Pelham since 1978, $2.1M in all, or 26.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (38).
Is Pelham 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 Westchester County, 64% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pelham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pelham’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 Pelham?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 38 paid, $1.3M.
Is Pelham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Pelham’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pelham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pelham’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.