Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Wallkill faces less hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wallkill gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #205 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 44 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 Wallkill’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wallkill 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
Earthquakes
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 Wallkill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wallkill, and Wallkill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 16% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
A #205 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wallkill’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, Wallkill has less expected damage per building than 73% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.3M a year in losses across Wallkill: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wallkill flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wallkill, from FEMA’s records: 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene10 claims · $159K
- The Torrential rain4 claims · $60K
- The April 2007 nor’easter4 claims · $30K
Wallkill isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orange County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wallkill
Disasters that paid out in Wallkill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wallkill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida7 households applied for aid$26K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $18K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy3 households applied for aid$475 aid approved$94K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $85K
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee3 households applied for aid$69K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $7K
- 2011Hurricane Irene35 households applied for aid$79K aid approved$464K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $159K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$251K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$21K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs
- 2003Snow$38K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$32K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$36K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs
Orange County has had 25 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.
Also 2 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Orange County, 1999–2024.
Old photos of Wallkill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wallkill archive →Wallkill and its neighbors
Wallkill has the lowest expected damage per building of the 8 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallkill | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Wawayanda | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Mount Hope | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Crawford | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Middletown | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| Montgomery | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Hamptonburgh | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Mamakating | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Washington Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Mechanicstown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bloomingburg | — | 680 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Wallkill 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Wallkill
Is Wallkill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wallkill has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #205 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wallkill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Wallkill since 1978, $439K in all, or 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (10).
Is Wallkill 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 Orange County, 31% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wallkill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wallkill’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 Wallkill?
By FEMA money that reached Wallkill, Hurricane Irene (2011): 35 households applied for aid, $79K approved, and $464K to the Town of Wallkill for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 10 paid, $159K.
Is Wallkill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Wallkill’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wallkill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wallkill’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.