Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Yonkers than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yonkers gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #360 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 690 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 Yonkers’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Yonkers 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 Yonkers’ grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Yonkers, and Yonkers’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #360 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Yonkers’ residents live in 58 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, Yonkers has less expected damage per building than 53% of New York towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Yonkers has lower expected damage per building than 82% (#71 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $38.9M, is the 301th largest of those 400.
Does Yonkers flood? Yes: 690 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Yonkers, from FEMA’s records: 8.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida105 claims · $7.5M
- Hurricane Irene101 claims · $3.9M
Yonkers isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Westchester County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Yonkers
Disasters that paid out in Yonkers itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Yonkers), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$884K to the City of Yonkers for repairs44 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida2,365 households applied for aid$6.3M aid approved$2.3M to the City of Yonkers for repairs105 flood claims paid for it, $7.5M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$871K to the City of Yonkers for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy830 households applied for aid$265K aid approved$10.6M to the City of Yonkers for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene239 households applied for aid$478K aid approved$2.0M to the City of Yonkers for repairs101 flood claims paid for it, $3.9M
- 2011Hurricane Irene$1K to the City of Yonkers for repairs101 flood claims paid for it, $3.9M
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$544K to the City of Yonkers for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding361 households applied for aid$494K aid approved$576K to the City of Yonkers for repairs65 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$192K to the City of Yonkers for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$157K to the City of Yonkers for repairs23 flood claims paid for it, $407K
Westchester County has had 23 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 Yonkers after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Yonkers archive →Yonkers and its neighbors
Yonkers is 4th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Greenburgh | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 402 |
| New York | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 36,272 |
| Yonkers | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 690 |
| Mount Vernon | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Eastchester | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Hastings-on-Hudson | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Bronxville | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Tuckahoe | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Greenville | — | 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 Yonkers 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 Yonkers
Is Yonkers at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yonkers has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #360 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Yonkers flood?
Flood insurance has paid 690 claims in Yonkers since 1978, $21.3M in all, or 8.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 99 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (105).
Is Yonkers 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 Westchester County, 64% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Yonkers?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Yonkers’ 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 Yonkers?
By FEMA money that reached Yonkers, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 830 households applied for aid, $265K approved, and $10.6M to the City of Yonkers for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 105 paid, $7.5M.
Is Yonkers at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Yonkers’ rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Yonkers.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Yonkers’ 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.