Photo: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Sea Cliff than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sea Cliff gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #17 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 25 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 Sea Cliff’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sea Cliff 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
Earthquakes
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 Sea Cliff’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sea Cliff, and Sea Cliff’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 93% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #17 of 758 in New York; among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Sea Cliff’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sea Cliff has less expected damage per building than 98% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $707K a year in losses across Sea Cliff: $595K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sea Cliff flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sea Cliff, from FEMA’s records: 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy4 claims · $60K
- The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $9K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $23K
Sea Cliff 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sea Cliff
Disasters that paid out in Sea Cliff itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Sea Cliff), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida52 households applied for aid$215K aid approved
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$29K to the Village of Sea Cliff for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy45 households applied for aid$18K aid approved$213K to the Village of Sea Cliff for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $60K
- 2011Hurricane Irene6 households applied for aid$33K to the Village of Sea Cliff for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $23K
- 2003Snow$7K to the Village of Sea Cliff 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 Sea Cliff after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sea Cliff archive →Sea Cliff and its neighbors
Sea Cliff has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Cliff | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| North Hempstead | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 189 |
| Glen Cove | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| Oyster Bay | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 4,654 |
| Glen Head | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Glenwood Landing | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Port Washington | — | 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 Sea Cliff 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Sea Cliff
Is Sea Cliff at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sea Cliff has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #17 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and hurricanes (16%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sea Cliff flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Sea Cliff since 1978, $202K in all, or 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (4).
Is Sea Cliff 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 Sea Cliff?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sea Cliff’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 Sea Cliff?
By FEMA money that reached Sea Cliff, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 45 households applied for aid, $18K approved, and $213K to the Village of Sea Cliff for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 4 paid, $60K.
Is Sea Cliff at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Sea Cliff’s rate for it is lower than 93% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sea Cliff.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sea Cliff’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.