FEMA puts Wesley Hills’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wesley Hills gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #229 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2011.
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 Wesley Hills 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
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 Wesley Hills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wesley Hills, and Wesley Hills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
A #229 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wesley Hills’ residents live in 3 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, Wesley Hills has less expected damage per building than 70% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Wesley Hills: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wesley Hills flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wesley Hills, from FEMA’s records: 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $227
- The Vermont/New York Flooding1 claim · $87K
Wesley Hills 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Wesley Hills
Disasters that paid out in Wesley Hills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Wesley Hills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$2K to the Village of Wesley Hills for repairs
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 Wesley Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wesley Hills archive →Wesley Hills and its neighbors
Wesley Hills is 2nd of the 4 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 |
| Wesley Hills | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Montebello | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Pomona | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Viola | — | 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 Wesley Hills 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.
- 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 Wesley Hills
Is Wesley Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wesley Hills has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #229 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wesley Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Wesley Hills since 2011, $90K in all, or 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Wesley Hills 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 Wesley Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wesley Hills’ 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 Wesley Hills?
By FEMA money that reached Wesley Hills, Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations (1999): $2K to the Village of Wesley Hills for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $227.
Is Wesley Hills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Wesley Hills’ rate for it is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wesley Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wesley Hills’ 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.