Photo: Jim.henderson · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Spring Valley faces less hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Valley gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #342 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 216 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 Spring Valley’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Spring Valley 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
Earthquakes
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 Spring Valley’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Spring Valley, and Spring Valley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #342 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Spring Valley’s residents live in 12 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, Spring Valley has less expected damage per building than 55% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Spring Valley: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Spring Valley flood? Yes: 216 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Spring Valley, from FEMA’s records: 22.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd12 claims · $101K
- Hurricane Irene10 claims · $91K
Spring Valley 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Spring Valley
Disasters that paid out in Spring Valley itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Spring Valley), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida186 households applied for aid$511K aid approved6 flood claims paid for it, $247K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy675 households applied for aid$122K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene303 households applied for aid$548K aid approved10 flood claims paid for it, $91K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding57 households applied for aid$44K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
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.
Old photos of Spring Valley after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Spring Valley archive →Spring Valley and its neighbors
Spring Valley is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hempstead | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Chestnut Ridge | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Spring Valley | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 216 |
| Nanuet | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Monsey | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Hillcrest | — | 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 Spring Valley 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Spring Valley
Is Spring Valley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Valley has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #342 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Spring Valley flood?
Flood insurance has paid 216 claims in Spring Valley since 1978, $1.5M in all, or 22.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 29 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (12).
Is Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Spring Valley’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 Spring Valley?
By FEMA money that reached Spring Valley, Hurricane Irene (2011): 303 households applied for aid, $548K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 12 paid, $101K.
Is Spring Valley at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Spring Valley’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Spring Valley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Spring Valley’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.