Photo: CaptJayRuffins · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Westhampton Beach faces more hazard damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westhampton Beach gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%), then coastal flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 1,020 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 Westhampton Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Westhampton Beach 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
Coastal 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 Westhampton Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Westhampton Beach, and Westhampton Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 27%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Westhampton Beach’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Westhampton Beach: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Westhampton Beach flood? Yes: 1,020 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Westhampton Beach, from FEMA’s records: 427.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy261 claims · $17.2M
- The Blizzard of 1993133 claims · $3.8M
- The “Halloween” storm81 claims · $3.0M
Westhampton Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Suffolk County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Westhampton Beach
Disasters that paid out in Westhampton Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Westhampton Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$8K to the Village of Westhampton Beach for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Village of Westhampton Beach for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy133 households applied for aid$206K aid approved$290K to the Village of Westhampton Beach for repairs261 flood claims paid for it, $17.2M
- 2011Hurricane Irene8 households applied for aid$42K to the Village of Westhampton Beach for repairs30 flood claims paid for it, $861K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$17K to the Village of Westhampton Beach for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$16K to the Village of Westhampton Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$4K to the Village of Westhampton Beach for repairs
Suffolk County has had 26 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.
Old photos of Westhampton Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Westhampton Beach archive →Westhampton Beach and its neighbors
Westhampton Beach is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quogue | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 274 |
| Westhampton Beach | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1,020 |
| Westhampton | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Quiogue | — | 941 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 Westhampton Beach 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Westhampton Beach
Is Westhampton Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westhampton Beach has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and coastal flooding (27%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Westhampton Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,020 claims in Westhampton Beach since 1978, $37.6M in all, or 427.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 107 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (261).
Is Westhampton Beach 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 Suffolk County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Westhampton Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Westhampton Beach’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 Westhampton Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Westhampton Beach, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 133 households applied for aid, $206K approved, and $290K to the Village of Westhampton Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 261 paid, $17.2M.
Is Westhampton Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Westhampton Beach’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Westhampton Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Westhampton Beach’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.