Photo: A1% · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Port Jervis than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Port Jervis gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #742 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 115 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 Jervis’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Port Jervis 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 Jervis’ grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Port Jervis, and Port Jervis’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D #742 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Port Jervis’ 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, Port Jervis has more expected damage per building than 98% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Port Jervis: $4.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Port Jervis flood? Yes: 115 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Port Jervis, from FEMA’s records: 29.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain40 claims · $684K
- Hurricane Irene7 claims · $43K
- Tropical Storm Lee2 claims · $10K
Port Jervis isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orange County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Port Jervis
Disasters that paid out in Port Jervis itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Port Jervis), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida17 households applied for aid$9K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy37 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$59K to the City of Port Jervis for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee24 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$13K to the City of Port Jervis for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $10K
- 2011Hurricane Irene163 households applied for aid$364K aid approved$1.7M to the City of Port Jervis for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $43K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding9 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$4K to the City of Port Jervis for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding61 households applied for aid$43K aid approved16 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding110 households applied for aid$406K aid approved$311K to the City of Port Jervis for repairs40 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan39 households applied for aid$138K aid approved$71K to the City of Port Jervis for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$17K to the City of Port Jervis for repairs
- 2003Snow$15K to the City of Port Jervis for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$20K to the City of Port Jervis for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$10K to the City of Port Jervis for repairs
Orange County has had 25 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.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Orange County, 1999–2024.
Old photos of Port Jervis after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Port Jervis archive →Port Jervis and its neighbors
Port Jervis is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deerpark | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Matamoras | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Port Jervis | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
| Westfall Township | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Sparrow Bush | — | 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 Jervis 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 Jervis
Is Port Jervis at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Port Jervis has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #742 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Port Jervis flood?
Flood insurance has paid 115 claims in Port Jervis since 1978, $1.4M in all, or 29.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (40).
Is Port Jervis 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 Orange County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Port Jervis?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Port Jervis’ 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 Jervis?
By FEMA money that reached Port Jervis, Hurricane Irene (2011): 163 households applied for aid, $364K approved, and $1.7M to the City of Port Jervis for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 40 paid, $684K.
Is Port Jervis at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Port Jervis’ rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Port Jervis.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Port Jervis’ 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.