Photo: Hayden Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Sag Harbor than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sag Harbor gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #84 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 112 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 Sag Harbor’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sag Harbor 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
Coastal 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 Sag Harbor’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sag Harbor, and Sag Harbor’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 7%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #84 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sag Harbor’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, Sag Harbor has less expected damage per building than 89% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Sag Harbor: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sag Harbor flood? Yes: 112 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sag Harbor, from FEMA’s records: 53.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy32 claims · $1.3M
- The Torrential rain19 claims · $258K
- The December Storm - nor’easter14 claims · $158K
Sag Harbor isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Suffolk County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sag Harbor
Disasters that paid out in Sag Harbor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Sag Harbor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida17 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2012Hurricane Sandy83 households applied for aid$121K aid approved$176K to the Village of Sag Harbor for repairs32 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2011Hurricane Irene7 households applied for aid$535 aid approved$43K to the Village of Sag Harbor for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$28K to the Village of Sag Harbor for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$9K to the Village of Sag Harbor for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$2K to the Village of Sag Harbor for repairs
Suffolk County has had 26 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.
Old photos of Sag Harbor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sag Harbor archive →Sag Harbor and its neighbors
Sag Harbor has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sag Harbor | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 112 |
| Noyack | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Northwest Harbor | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Wainscott | — | 612 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 Sag Harbor 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Sag Harbor
Is Sag Harbor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sag Harbor has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #84 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sag Harbor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 112 claims in Sag Harbor since 1978, $2.0M in all, or 53.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (32).
Is Sag Harbor 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 Suffolk County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sag Harbor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sag Harbor’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 Sag Harbor?
By FEMA money that reached Sag Harbor, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 83 households applied for aid, $121K approved, and $176K to the Village of Sag Harbor for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 32 paid, $1.3M.
Is Sag Harbor at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Sag Harbor’s rate for it is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sag Harbor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sag Harbor’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.