Photo: Alexisrael · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Ramapo’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ramapo gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #279 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 335 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 Ramapo’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ramapo 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
Earthquakes
Hurricanes
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 Ramapo’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ramapo, and Ramapo’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #279 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ramapo’s residents live in 39 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, Ramapo has less expected damage per building than 63% of New York towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Ramapo has lower expected damage per building than 91% (#36 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $22.5M, is the 380th largest of those 400.
Does Ramapo flood? Yes: 335 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ramapo, from FEMA’s records: 8.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd11 claims · $125K
- Hurricane Irene11 claims · $496K
Ramapo 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ramapo
Disasters that paid out in Ramapo itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Ramapo), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$1.3M to the Town of Ramapo for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $130K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$214K to the Town of Ramapo for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$2.2M to the Town of Ramapo for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$1.1M to the Town of Ramapo for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $496K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$227K to the Town of Ramapo for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$43K to the Town of Ramapo for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$138K to the Town of Ramapo for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$835K to the Town of Ramapo for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $125K
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 Ramapo after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ramapo archive →Ramapo and its neighbors
Ramapo is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chestnut Ridge | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Clarkstown | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 724 |
| Orangetown | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 292 |
| Ramapo | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 335 |
| Tuxedo | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Tuxedo | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Haverstraw | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| New City | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Hillcrest | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Nanuet | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Pearl River | — | 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 Ramapo 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Ramapo
Is Ramapo at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ramapo has lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #279 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ramapo flood?
Flood insurance has paid 335 claims in Ramapo since 1978, $2.0M in all, or 8.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 40 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (11).
Is Ramapo 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 Ramapo?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ramapo’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 Ramapo?
By FEMA money that reached Ramapo, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $2.2M to the Town of Ramapo for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 11 paid, $125K.
Is Ramapo at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Ramapo’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ramapo.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ramapo’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.