Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Rockville Centre faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockville Centre gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #587 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 51 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 Rockville Centre 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 Rockville Centre’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rockville Centre, and Rockville Centre’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #587 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rockville Centre’s residents live in 6 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, Rockville Centre has more expected damage per building than 77% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.2M a year in losses across Rockville Centre: $8.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rockville Centre flood? Sometimes: 51 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rockville Centre, from FEMA’s records: 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy20 claims · $906K
- Hurricane Irene6 claims · $48K
- The Late-September New York Flooding3 claims · $95K
Rockville Centre isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Nassau County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rockville Centre
Disasters that paid out in Rockville Centre itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Rockville Centre), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida76 households applied for aid$64K aid approved
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$544K to the Village of Rockville Centre for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy260 households applied for aid$188K aid approved$2.2M to the Village of Rockville Centre for repairs20 flood claims paid for it, $906K
- 2011Hurricane Irene11 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$316K to the Village of Rockville Centre for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $48K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$118K to the Village of Rockville Centre for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$647K to the Village of Rockville Centre for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$63K to the Village of Rockville Centre for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$33K to the Village of Rockville Centre for repairs
Nassau County has had 22 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 Rockville Centre after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rockville Centre archive →Rockville Centre and its neighbors
Rockville Centre is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynbrook | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| East Rockaway | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 1,026 |
| Rockville Centre | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| Baldwin | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Lakeview | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| South Hempstead | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Oceanside | — | 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 Rockville Centre 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 Rockville Centre
Is Rockville Centre at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockville Centre has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #587 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rockville Centre flood?
Flood insurance has paid 51 claims in Rockville Centre since 1979, $1.1M in all, or 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (20).
Is Rockville Centre 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 Nassau County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rockville Centre?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rockville Centre’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 Rockville Centre?
By FEMA money that reached Rockville Centre, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 260 households applied for aid, $188K approved, and $2.2M to the Village of Rockville Centre for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 20 paid, $906K.
Is Rockville Centre at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Rockville Centre’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rockville Centre.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rockville Centre’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.