Photo: Jim.henderson · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Piermont than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Piermont gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #725 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then coastal flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 107 claims here since 1979.
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 Piermont’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Piermont 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
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 Piermont’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Piermont, and Piermont’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 28%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #725 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Piermont’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Piermont has more expected damage per building than 96% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Piermont: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Piermont flood? Yes: 107 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Piermont, from FEMA’s records: 82.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy44 claims · $3.5M
- Hurricane Irene13 claims · $435K
- The December Storm - nor’easter7 claims · $93K
Piermont isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockland County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Piermont
Disasters that paid out in Piermont itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Piermont), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida20 households applied for aid$41K aid approved$88K to the Village of Piermont for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $188K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$17K to the Village of Piermont for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy183 households applied for aid$631K aid approved$438K to the Village of Piermont for repairs44 flood claims paid for it, $3.5M
- 2011Hurricane Irene32 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$34K to the Village of Piermont for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $435K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Village of Piermont for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$44K to the Village of Piermont for repairs
Show all 9
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding20 households applied for aid$39K aid approved$135K to the Village of Piermont for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$7K to the Village of Piermont for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$139K to the Village of Piermont for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Rockland County has had 21 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 Piermont after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Piermont archive →Piermont and its neighbors
Piermont 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piermont | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 107 |
| Orangeburg | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Grand View-on-Hudson | — | 226 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Sparkill | — | 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 Piermont 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.
- 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 Piermont
Is Piermont at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Piermont has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #725 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and coastal flooding (28%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Piermont flood?
Flood insurance has paid 107 claims in Piermont since 1979, $5.1M in all, or 82.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (44).
Is Piermont 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 Rockland County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Piermont?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Piermont’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 Piermont?
By FEMA money that reached Piermont, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 183 households applied for aid, $631K approved, and $438K to the Village of Piermont for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 44 paid, $3.5M.
Is Piermont at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Piermont’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Piermont.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Piermont’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.