Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Port Chester than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Port Chester gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #660 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 145 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 Port Chester’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Port Chester 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
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 Port Chester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Port Chester, and Port Chester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #660 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Port Chester’s residents live in 7 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, Port Chester has more expected damage per building than 87% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.7M a year in losses across Port Chester: $6.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Port Chester flood? Yes: 145 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Port Chester, from FEMA’s records: 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida29 claims · $2.3M
- The April 2007 nor’easter10 claims · $167K
Port Chester 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Port Chester
Disasters that paid out in Port Chester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Port Chester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$1.2M to the Village of Port Chester for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida588 households applied for aid$2.5M aid approved$2.5M to the Village of Port Chester for repairs29 flood claims paid for it, $2.3M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$40K to the Village of Port Chester for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy124 households applied for aid$56K aid approved$517K to the Village of Port Chester for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $354K
- 2011Hurricane Irene33 households applied for aid$81K aid approved$36K to the Village of Port Chester for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $200K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$14K to the Village of Port Chester for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 9
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding74 households applied for aid$117K aid approved$162K to the Village of Port Chester for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$30K to the Village of Port Chester for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$25K to the Village of Port Chester for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
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 Port Chester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Port Chester archive →Port Chester and its neighbors
Port Chester is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rye Brook | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 250 |
| Rye | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1,566 |
| Rye | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 786 |
| Greenwich | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1,198 |
| Port Chester | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 145 |
| Byram | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Pemberwick | — | 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 Port Chester 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.
- 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 Port Chester
Is Port Chester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Port Chester has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #660 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Port Chester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 145 claims in Port Chester since 1978, $3.7M in all, or 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 17 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (29).
Is Port Chester 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 Port Chester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Port Chester’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 Port Chester?
By FEMA money that reached Port Chester, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 588 households applied for aid, $2.5M approved, and $2.5M to the Village of Port Chester for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 29 paid, $2.3M.
Is Port Chester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Port Chester’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Port Chester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Port Chester’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.