Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Yorktown’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yorktown gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #177 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 144 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 Yorktown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Yorktown 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 Yorktown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Yorktown, and Yorktown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
A #177 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Yorktown’s residents live in 8 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, Yorktown has less expected damage per building than 77% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.0M a year in losses across Yorktown: $6.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Yorktown flood? Yes: 144 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Yorktown, from FEMA’s records: 10.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd23 claims · $236K
- The Vermont/New York Flooding15 claims · $673K
Yorktown 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Yorktown
Disasters that paid out in Yorktown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Yorktown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$68K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $228K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$423K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$927K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene2 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$202K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $39K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$7K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $39K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$300K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$110K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$461K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs23 flood claims paid for it, $236K
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 Yorktown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Yorktown archive →Yorktown and its neighbors
Yorktown is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somers | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| New Castle | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 143 |
| Yorktown | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 144 |
| Cortlandt | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Lake Mohegan | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Jefferson Valley-Yorktown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Yorktown Heights | — | 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 Yorktown 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 Yorktown
Is Yorktown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yorktown has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #177 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Yorktown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 144 claims in Yorktown since 1978, $1.7M in all, or 10.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (23).
Is Yorktown 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 Yorktown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Yorktown’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 Yorktown?
By FEMA money that reached Yorktown, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $927K to the Town of Yorktown for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 23 paid, $236K.
Is Yorktown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Yorktown’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Yorktown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Yorktown’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.