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 B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #509 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 61 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 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 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pelham, and Pelham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #509 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pelham’s residents live in 2 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 67% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Pelham: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pelham flood? Sometimes: 61 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pelham, from FEMA’s records: 24.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida20 claims · $731K
- The Late-September New York Flooding4 claims · $56K
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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pelham
Disasters that paid out in Pelham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Pelham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida320 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$43K to the Village of Pelham for repairs20 flood claims paid for it, $731K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy51 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$248K to the Village of Pelham for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene23 households applied for aid$40K aid approved$72K to the Village of Pelham for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $25K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$1K to the Village of Pelham for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $25K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$44K to the Village of Pelham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding168 households applied for aid$270K aid approved$33K to the Village of Pelham for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2003Snow$6K to the Village of Pelham for repairs
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 3rd of the 5 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 |
| 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 lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #509 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pelham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 61 claims in Pelham since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 24.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (20).
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 FEMA money that reached Pelham, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 320 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved, and $43K to the Village of Pelham for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 20 paid, $731K.
Is Pelham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Pelham’s rate for it is higher than 69% 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.