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Downtown SloatsburgPhoto: Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com · CC BY-SA 4.0
DHazard risk
Natural hazards in Sloatsburg · FEMA

More hazard damage per building is expected in Sloatsburg than in 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sloatsburg gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #738 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 54 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 95%Hurricanes 2%Earthquakes 2%

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

more than 87%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#738 of 758 in New York
Hazard risk
D#738 of 758
in New York · higher than 87% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
95% of expected building damage
Flood claims
54
paid since 1979 · $583K
Flooded more than once
8
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
9
of 21 declared for Rockland County

What stands out about Sloatsburg’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Moved out of harm’s way1 flood-prone property bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 201121 flood claims were paid for 2011 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Sloatsburg 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

95%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Hurricanes Earthquakes Tornadoes Strong wind Winter storms Ice storms Hail Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingWildfireAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Sloatsburg’s grade

River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sloatsburg, and Sloatsburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Sloatsburg sits
Sloatsburg
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D #738 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Sloatsburg’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding95%Everything else5%

The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sloatsburg has more expected damage per building than 97% of New York towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Sloatsburg: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Sloatsburg’s 3,036 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract. FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Sloatsburg flood? Sometimes: 54 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sloatsburg, from FEMA’s records: 47.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 5 claims1980: 6 claims1981: 1 claim1982: 0 claims1983: 2 claims1984: 6 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 3 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 1 claim2005: 2 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 2 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 2 claims2011: 21 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 3 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198019842011
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene15 claims · $291K
  • Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $12K
54
paid claims since 1979
$583K
paid to owners
8
homes flooded more than once
$11K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Sloatsburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Rockland County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1flood-prone property bought out and cleared
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sloatsburg

Disasters that paid out in Sloatsburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Sloatsburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida8 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$26K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $69K
  2. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$18K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs
  3. 2012Hurricane Sandy14 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$26K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs
  4. 2011Hurricane Irene91 households applied for aid$171K aid approved$89K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $291K
  5. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs
  6. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$34K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs
Show all 9
  1. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$216K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2003Snow$11K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs
  3. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$131K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $12K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in SloatsburgRockland County only

Rockland County has had 21 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Sloatsburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Sloatsburg archive →
Next door

Sloatsburg and its neighbors

Sloatsburg is 4th of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Ramapo: hazard risk A−Tuxedo: hazard risk B−Tuxedo: hazard risk B−RamapoTuxedoTuxedoSloatsburg
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
RamapoA−less damage than 81%river and rain flooding335
TuxedoB−more damage than 52%river and rain flooding30
TuxedoB−more damage than 52%river and rain flooding29
SloatsburgDmore damage than 87%river and rain flooding54

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Sloatsburg faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Sloatsburg

Is Sloatsburg at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sloatsburg has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #738 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). 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 Sloatsburg flood?

Flood insurance has paid 54 claims in Sloatsburg since 1979, $583K in all, or 47.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (15).

Is Sloatsburg 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 Rockland County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Sloatsburg?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sloatsburg’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 Sloatsburg?

By FEMA money that reached Sloatsburg, Hurricane Irene (2011): 91 households applied for aid, $171K approved, and $89K to the Village of Sloatsburg for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 15 paid, $291K.

Is Sloatsburg at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Sloatsburg’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sloatsburg.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sloatsburg’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.