Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Woodbury than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbury gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #190 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 59 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 Woodbury’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Woodbury 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 Woodbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodbury, and Woodbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 18% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
A #190 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Woodbury’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, Woodbury has less expected damage per building than 75% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Woodbury: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woodbury flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodbury, from FEMA’s records: 15.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene15 claims · $493K
- Hurricane Floyd3 claims · $33K
Woodbury 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Woodbury
Disasters that paid out in Woodbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Woodbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$300K to the Village of Woodbury for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida31 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$344K to the Village of Woodbury for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $20K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy91 households applied for aid$14K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $27K
- 2011Hurricane Irene3 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$354K to the Village of Woodbury for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $493K
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 Woodbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodbury archive →Woodbury and its neighbors
Woodbury 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Monroe | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Harriman | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Blooming Grove | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 135 |
| Cornwall | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Tuxedo | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Tuxedo | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Highlands | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Woodbury | — | not graded yet | |
| Mountain Lodge Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| West Point | — | 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 Woodbury 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 Woodbury
Is Woodbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbury has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #190 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Woodbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Woodbury since 1978, $886K in all, or 15.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (15).
Is Woodbury 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 Woodbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woodbury’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 Woodbury?
By FEMA money that reached Woodbury, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 31 households applied for aid, $34K approved, and $344K to the Village of Woodbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 15 paid, $493K.
Is Woodbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Woodbury’s rate for it is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodbury’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.