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Warwick, NY, town hallPhoto: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Warwick · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Warwick faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Warwick gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #483 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 39 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 82%Hurricanes 12%Earthquakes 3%

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

less than 56%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#483 of 758 in New York
Hazard risk
B#483 of 758
in New York · lower than 56% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
82% of expected building damage
Flood claims
39
paid since 1979 · $345K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
10
of 25 declared for Orange County
By hazard

What Warwick 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

82%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

12%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 12 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Strong wind Ice storms Wildfire Winter storms Landslides top 5% Hail Cold waves Heat waves Lightning Avalanches top 1%
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingTsunamisVolcanic 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 Warwick’s grade

River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Warwick, and Warwick’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Warwick sits
Warwick
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #483 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Warwick’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding82%Hurricanes12%Earthquakes3%Everything else3%

The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Warwick has more expected damage per building than 64% of New York towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.4M a year in losses across Warwick: $7.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 8 census tracts by where Warwick’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Warwick flood? Sometimes: 39 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Warwick, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 5 claims1980: 4 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 5 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 3 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 1 claim2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 3 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 14 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 1 claim2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197919842011
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene14 claims · $253K
  • The Torrential rain3 claims · $7K
39
paid claims since 1979
$345K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$9K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Warwick 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.
Disasters

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Warwick

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

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$495K to the Town of Warwick for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $35K
  2. 2012Hurricane Sandy$234K to the Town of Warwick for repairs
  3. 2011Hurricane Irene$3.7M to the Town of Warwick for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $253K
  4. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$236K to the Town of Warwick for repairs
  5. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$156K to the Town of Warwick for repairs
  6. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$575K to the Town of Warwick for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
  1. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$28K to the Town of Warwick for repairs
  2. 2003Snow$26K to the Town of Warwick for repairs
  3. 2002Snowstorms$26K to the Town of Warwick for repairs
  4. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$115K to the Town of Warwick for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in WarwickOrange County only

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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Warwick archive →
Next door

Warwick and its neighbors

Warwick is 7th of the 11 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Minisink: hazard risk B+Wawayanda: hazard risk AGoshen: hazard risk AFlorida: hazard risk A−Tuxedo: hazard risk B−Tuxedo: hazard risk B−Vernon Township: hazard risk B+Chester: hazard risk A−West Milford Township: hazard risk CRingwood: hazard risk CMinisinkWawayandaGoshenFloridaTuxedoTuxedoVernon TownshipChesterWest Milford TownshipRingwoodWarwick
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
GoshenAless damage than 93%river and rain flooding38
WawayandaAless damage than 87%river and rain flooding10
ChesterA−less damage than 80%river and rain flooding85
FloridaA−less damage than 75%river and rain flooding16
MinisinkB+less damage than 71%river and rain flooding6
Vernon TownshipB+less damage than 65%river and rain flooding17
WarwickBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding39
TuxedoB−more damage than 52%river and rain flooding29
TuxedoB−more damage than 52%river and rain flooding30
West Milford TownshipCmore damage than 74%river and rain flooding104
RingwoodCmore damage than 74%river and rain flooding16

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 Warwick 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 ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
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 Warwick

Is Warwick at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Warwick has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #483 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Warwick flood?

Flood insurance has paid 39 claims in Warwick since 1979, $345K in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (14).

Is Warwick 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 Warwick?

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

By FEMA money that reached Warwick, Hurricane Irene (2011): $3.7M to the Town of Warwick for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 14 paid, $253K.

Is Warwick at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Warwick’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Warwick.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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