Beaverkill Covered Bridge · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Rockland than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockland gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #750 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 499 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 Rockland’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rockland 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 Rockland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rockland, and Rockland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #750 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rockland’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, Rockland has more expected damage per building than 99% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Rockland: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rockland flood? Yes: 499 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rockland, from FEMA’s records: 191.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain60 claims · $1.0M
- Hurricane Irene20 claims · $373K
Rockland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sullivan County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rockland
Disasters that paid out in Rockland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Rockland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$13K to the Town of Rockland for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$35K to the Town of Rockland for repairs20 flood claims paid for it, $373K
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$139K to the Town of Rockland for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$18K to the Town of Rockland for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$3.7M to the Town of Rockland for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$401K to the Town of Rockland for repairs61 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$185K to the Town of Rockland for repairs42 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$7K to the Town of Rockland for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$17K to the Town of Rockland for repairs
Sullivan County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Rockland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rockland archive →Rockland and its neighbors
Rockland is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Neversink | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Callicoon | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Fremont | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Rockland | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 499 |
| Colchester | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 100 |
| Hardenburgh | — | 153 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Denning | — | 587 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Rockland 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 Rockland
Is Rockland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockland has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #750 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 Rockland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 499 claims in Rockland since 1978, $8.9M in all, or 191.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 85 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (60).
Is Rockland 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 Sullivan County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rockland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rockland’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 Rockland?
By FEMA money that reached Rockland, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $3.7M to the Town of Rockland for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 60 paid, $1.0M.
Is Rockland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Rockland’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rockland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rockland’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.