Photo: Hayden Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Shelter Island than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shelter Island gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #33 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (57%), then hurricanes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 72 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 Shelter Island’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Shelter Island 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 Shelter Island’s grade
River and rain flooding is 57% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shelter Island, and Shelter Island’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 96% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 17%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #33 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shelter Island’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, Shelter Island has less expected damage per building than 96% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Shelter Island: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shelter Island flood? Sometimes: 72 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shelter Island, from FEMA’s records: 20.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy26 claims · $1.2M
- The “Halloween” storm11 claims · $424K
- The December Storm - nor’easter11 claims · $233K
Shelter Island 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shelter Island
Disasters that paid out in Shelter Island itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Shelter Island), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$18K to the Town of Shelter Island for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Town of Shelter Island for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy20 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$241K to the Town of Shelter Island for repairs26 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2011Hurricane Irene4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$125K to the Town of Shelter Island for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Town of Shelter Island for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$123K to the Town of Shelter Island for repairs
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$432K to the Town of Shelter Island for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$18K to the Town of Shelter Island 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 Shelter Island after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shelter Island archive →Shelter Island and its neighbors
Shelter Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter Island | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Southold | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 850 |
| East Hampton | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 587 |
| Southampton | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 2,567 |
| Shelter Island Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Northwest Harbor | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Greenport West | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| East Marion | — | 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 Shelter Island 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 Shelter Island
Is Shelter Island at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shelter Island has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #33 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (57%) and hurricanes (19%). 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 Shelter Island flood?
Flood insurance has paid 72 claims in Shelter Island since 1978, $1.9M in all, or 20.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (26).
Is Shelter Island 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 Shelter Island?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shelter Island’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 Shelter Island?
By FEMA money that reached Shelter Island, Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding (2007): $432K to the Town of Shelter Island for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 26 paid, $1.2M.
Is Shelter Island at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (57%), and Shelter Island’s rate for it is lower than 96% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shelter Island.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shelter Island’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.