Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Rye Brook than in 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rye Brook gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #423 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 250 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 Rye Brook’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rye Brook 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
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 Rye Brook’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rye Brook, and Rye Brook’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B #423 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rye Brook’s 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, Rye Brook has more expected damage per building than 56% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Rye Brook: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rye Brook flood? Yes: 250 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rye Brook, from FEMA’s records: 71.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida63 claims · $3.8M
- Hurricane Irene22 claims · $439K
Rye Brook 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rye Brook
Disasters that paid out in Rye Brook itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Rye Brook), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida244 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$475K to the Village of Rye Brook for repairs63 flood claims paid for it, $3.8M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$111K to the Village of Rye Brook for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy56 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$432K to the Village of Rye Brook for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene29 households applied for aid$74K aid approved$59K to the Village of Rye Brook for repairs22 flood claims paid for it, $439K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$111K to the Village of Rye Brook for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding92 households applied for aid$111K aid approved$72K to the Village of Rye Brook for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$25K to the Village of Rye Brook for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$4K to the Village of Rye Brook 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 Rye Brook after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rye Brook archive →Rye Brook and its neighbors
Rye Brook is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 777 |
| North Castle | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| 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 |
| Harrison | — | not graded yet | |
| Glenville | — | 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 Rye Brook 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.
- 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 Rye Brook
Is Rye Brook at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rye Brook has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #423 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rye Brook flood?
Flood insurance has paid 250 claims in Rye Brook since 1978, $5.8M in all, or 71.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 21 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (63).
Is Rye Brook 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 Rye Brook?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rye Brook’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 Rye Brook?
By FEMA money that reached Rye Brook, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 244 households applied for aid, $1.4M approved, and $475K to the Village of Rye Brook for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 63 paid, $3.8M.
Is Rye Brook at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Rye Brook’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rye Brook.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rye Brook’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.