On FEMA’s figures, Valley Stream faces less hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Valley Stream gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #416 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 232 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 Valley Stream’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Valley Stream 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 Valley Stream’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Valley Stream, and Valley Stream’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B #416 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Valley Stream’s residents live in 6 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, Valley Stream has more expected damage per building than 55% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.1M a year in losses across Valley Stream: $5.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Valley Stream flood? Yes: 232 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Valley Stream, from FEMA’s records: 17.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy55 claims · $1.8M
- The Late-September New York Flooding37 claims · $555K
- Hurricane Irene34 claims · $206K
Valley Stream 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Valley Stream
Disasters that paid out in Valley Stream itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Valley Stream), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$202K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs37 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida226 households applied for aid$190K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$478K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy2,394 households applied for aid$4.8M aid approved$1.4M to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs55 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2011Hurricane Irene131 households applied for aid$181K aid approved$169K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs34 flood claims paid for it, $206K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$850 to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs34 flood claims paid for it, $206K
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$85K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$71K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs
- 2003Snow$50K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$5K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
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 Valley Stream after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Valley Stream archive →Valley Stream and its neighbors
Valley Stream is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 36,272 |
| Lynbrook | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Hempstead | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 19,033 |
| Valley Stream | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 232 |
| Malverne | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| North Valley Stream | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| South Valley Stream | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Woodmere | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Hewlett | — | 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 Valley Stream 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 Valley Stream
Is Valley Stream at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Valley Stream has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #416 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Valley Stream flood?
Flood insurance has paid 232 claims in Valley Stream since 1978, $4.0M in all, or 17.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 30 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (55).
Is Valley Stream 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 Valley Stream?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Valley Stream’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 Valley Stream?
By FEMA money that reached Valley Stream, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 2,394 households applied for aid, $4.8M approved, and $1.4M to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 55 paid, $1.8M.
Is Valley Stream at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Valley Stream’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Valley Stream.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Valley Stream’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.