Photo: Kosboot · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Southold’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southold gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #55 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%), then coastal flooding (19%). Flood insurance has paid 850 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 Southold’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Southold 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
Coastal 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 Southold’s grade
River and rain flooding is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Southold, and Southold’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 94% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 19%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #55 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Southold’s residents live in 9 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, Southold has less expected damage per building than 93% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.7M a year in losses across Southold: $6.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Southold flood? Yes: 850 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Southold, from FEMA’s records: 54.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy321 claims · $12.1M
- The December Storm - nor’easter153 claims · $2.1M
- The March 2010 nor’easter61 claims · $446K
Southold 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 Southold
Disasters that paid out in Southold itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Southold), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$129K to the Town of Southold for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$116K to the Town of Southold for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy109 households applied for aid$206K aid approved$1.9M to the Town of Southold for repairs321 flood claims paid for it, $12.1M
- 2011Hurricane Irene9 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$311K to the Town of Southold for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $222K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$448K to the Town of Southold for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$250K to the Town of Southold for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$78K to the Town of Southold for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$28K to the Town of Southold 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 Southold after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Southold archive →Southold and its neighbors
Southold is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Riverhead | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 632 |
| Westerly | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 704 |
| Shelter Island Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Greenport West | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Northville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Mattituck | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| East Marion | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Laurel | — | 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 Southold 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.
- 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.
- 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 Southold
Is Southold at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southold has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #55 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%) and coastal flooding (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Southold flood?
Flood insurance has paid 850 claims in Southold since 1978, $16.8M in all, or 54.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 82 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (321).
Is Southold 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 Southold?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Southold’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 Southold?
By FEMA money that reached Southold, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 109 households applied for aid, $206K approved, and $1.9M to the Town of Southold for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 321 paid, $12.1M.
Is Southold at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Southold’s rate for it is lower than 94% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Southold.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Southold’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.