Photo: The original uploader was Daniel Case at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Washingtonville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washingtonville gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #533 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 225 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 Washingtonville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Washingtonville 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
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 Washingtonville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Washingtonville, and Washingtonville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #533 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Washingtonville’s residents live in 2 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, Washingtonville has more expected damage per building than 70% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Washingtonville: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Washingtonville flood? Yes: 225 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Washingtonville, from FEMA’s records: 100.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene65 claims · $2.8M
- The April 2007 nor’easter34 claims · $656K
- The March 2010 nor’easter11 claims · $113K
Washingtonville 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 Washingtonville
Disasters that paid out in Washingtonville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Washingtonville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida42 households applied for aid$151K aid approved$610K to the Village of Washingtonville for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy21 households applied for aid$7K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee8 households applied for aid$37K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene470 households applied for aid$2.4M aid approved$264K to the Village of Washingtonville for repairs65 flood claims paid for it, $2.8M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$38K to the Village of Washingtonville for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding99 households applied for aid$103K aid approved$33K to the Village of Washingtonville for repairs35 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$5K aid approved13 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$9K to the Village of Washingtonville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$7K to the Village of Washingtonville for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$2K to the Village of Washingtonville for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $184K
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 Washingtonville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Washingtonville archive →Washingtonville and its neighbors
Washingtonville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washingtonville | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
| Beaver Dam Lake | — | 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 Washingtonville 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.
- 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 Washingtonville
Is Washingtonville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washingtonville has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #533 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Washingtonville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 225 claims in Washingtonville since 1978, $4.5M in all, or 100.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 36 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (65).
Is Washingtonville 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 Washingtonville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Washingtonville’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 Washingtonville?
By FEMA money that reached Washingtonville, Hurricane Irene (2011): 470 households applied for aid, $2.4M approved, and $264K to the Village of Washingtonville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 65 paid, $2.8M.
Is Washingtonville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Washingtonville’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Washingtonville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Washingtonville’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.