New York flood insurance and flood history
From FEMA's flood insurance and disaster data · Updated 2026-10-08
FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data lists 175,430 flood insurance claims in New York since 1978. The NFIP paid $5.7 billion on them (building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments, in the dollars of the year paid).
The year with the most claims was 2012, with 57,991, mostly from Hurricane Sandy.
In the last ten years (2017–2026) there were 11,946 claims, and the average paid claim was $37,143.
30% of the claims with a recorded flood zone came from buildings outside FEMA's high-risk zones (rated zones B, C and X).
About 2.5% of homes in New York had an NFIP flood policy in FEMA's latest count (118,000 of 4,700,087 residential buildings). In the high-risk flood zones (Special Flood Hazard Areas), it was 76% (71,882 of 95,168).
Since 2000, FEMA has made 29 flood-related disaster declarations covering parts of New York. The most recent was DR-4839-NY (Severe Storm and Flooding), declared October 21, 2024.
Flood insurance claims in New York by year
Show as a table
| Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 281 | $3.2 million |
| 2025 | 298 | $6.2 million |
| 2024 | 928 | $32.5 million |
| 2023 | 2,345 | $56.7 million |
| 2022 | 1,355 | $31.8 million |
| 2021 | 4,059 | $161.3 million |
| 2020 | 291 | $3.5 million |
| 2019 | 628 | $12.9 million |
| 2018 | 885 | $14.5 million |
| 2017 | 876 | $12.5 million |
| 2016 | 227 | $1.2 million |
| 2015 | 327 | $2.8 million |
| 2014 | 1,559 | $15.8 million |
| 2013 | 1,009 | $13.6 million |
| 2012 | 57,991 | $4.2 billion |
| 2011 | 20,619 | $535.2 million |
| 2010 | 3,082 | $22.7 million |
| 2009 | 608 | $7.2 million |
| 2008 | 532 | $4.0 million |
| 2007 | 3,080 | $63.3 million |
| 2006 | 2,773 | $92.9 million |
| 2005 | 5,711 | $58.4 million |
| 2004 | 1,036 | $13.1 million |
| 2003 | 621 | $3.1 million |
| 2002 | 293 | $1.4 million |
| 2001 | 334 | $1.2 million |
| 2000 | 513 | $4.0 million |
| 1999 | 1,267 | $14.9 million |
| 1998 | 1,101 | $7.6 million |
| 1997 | 209 | $1.9 million |
| 1996 | 4,010 | $38.1 million |
| 1995 | 292 | $5.1 million |
| 1994 | 770 | $5.2 million |
| 1993 | 2,681 | $25.5 million |
| 1992 | 9,310 | $109.6 million |
| 1991 | 4,017 | $37.3 million |
| 1990 | 430 | $1.9 million |
| 1989 | 657 | $1.4 million |
| 1988 | 261 | $439,289 |
| 1987 | 1,052 | $4.2 million |
| 1986 | 780 | $2.7 million |
| 1985 | 3,624 | $14.8 million |
| 1984 | 3,898 | $11.5 million |
| 1983 | 2,684 | $4.7 million |
| 1982 | 2,086 | $3.2 million |
| 1981 | 2,484 | $5.8 million |
| 1980 | 7,236 | $16.1 million |
| 1979 | 10,144 | $26.5 million |
| 1978 | 4,176 | $10.6 million |
Biggest flood events by NFIP payments
The flood events FEMA's claims data names most often for New York, ranked by what the NFIP paid. FEMA names events in its claims records; claims without an event name aren't included here.
| Event | Year | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Sandy | 2012 | 57,405 | $4.2 billion |
| Hurricane Irene | 2011 | 14,744 | $348.7 million |
| Tropical Storm Lee | 2011 | 3,159 | $160.3 million |
| Hurricane Ida | 2021 | 3,355 | $151.3 million |
| December Storm - Nor'easter | 1992 | 9,061 | $108.6 million |
| April 2007 Nor'easter | 2007 | 2,176 | $50.3 million |
| Torrential rain | 2005 | 4,991 | $47.9 million |
| Late-September New York Flooding | 2023 | 1,611 | $36.3 million |
| The "Halloween" Storm | 1991 | 3,496 | $35.5 million |
| Flooding | 1996 | 2,887 | $28.5 million |
What flood insurance costs in New York
On June 30, 2026, 163,819 NFIP flood insurance policies were in force in New York. For the 98,502 single-family homes among them, the typical (median) yearly cost was about $1,290; the average was $1,600.
| Rated flood zone | Policies | Typical yearly cost, single-family home | Average cost | Average building coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-risk zones (A and V) | 96,272 | $1,640 | $1,950 | $224,000 |
| Moderate- and low-risk zones (B, C and X) | 67,546 | $1,090 | $1,040 | $234,000 |
Cost here is what FEMA's data lists as the policy cost: the premium plus the reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge. It covers single-family homes only (not condos, apartments or businesses), with costs rounded to the nearest $10 and shown only where at least 20 homes back the figure. Your own price depends on your building and the coverage you choose; see how flood insurance is priced. Private flood insurance isn't included.
Policies and average cost by exact flood zone
Flood history by county
Every New York county in FEMA's data, sorted by number of NFIP claims since 1978. "Insured" is the share of homes with an NFIP policy; "typical NFIP cost" is the median yearly cost for single-family homes.
| County | Claims | Paid | Insured | Typical NFIP cost | Flood declarations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau County | 51,523 | $2.3 billion | 9.6% | $1,510 | 4 |
| Suffolk County | 33,936 | $1.1 billion | 5.4% | $1,360 | 6 |
| Richmond County | 19,422 | $282.2 million | 4.4% | $990 | 3 |
| Queens County | 14,948 | $707.5 million | 3.7% | $1,240 | 2 |
| Westchester County | 12,259 | $272.8 million | 3.0% | $890 | 6 |
| Kings County | 6,319 | $329.9 million | 2.9% | $1,110 | 3 |
| Rockland County | 3,480 | $45.4 million | 1.3% | $1,010 | 4 |
| Broome County | 3,103 | $138.3 million | 1.8% | $1,190 | 9 |
| Erie County | 2,483 | $12.8 million | 0.4% | $1,090 | 7 |
| Orange County | 2,032 | $26.8 million | 0.9% | $1,160 | 7 |
| Bronx County | 1,945 | $27.4 million | 2.3% | $1,210 | 1 |
| Chautauqua County | 1,803 | $10.0 million | 0.6% | $1,210 | 8 |
| Tioga County | 1,558 | $61.3 million | 2.6% | $1,710 | 8 |
| New York County | 1,498 | $120.8 million | 1.5% | $1,140 | 1 |
| Delaware County | 1,291 | $39.6 million | 1.9% | $1,510 | 12 |
| Ulster County | 1,279 | $30.2 million | 1.3% | $1,360 | 8 |
| Oneida County | 1,069 | $16.2 million | 0.6% | $1,190 | 7 |
| Onondaga County | 970 | $8.6 million | 0.7% | $1,190 | 4 |
| Sullivan County | 945 | $16.2 million | 0.7% | $1,340 | 8 |
| Monroe County | 828 | $5.0 million | 0.4% | $890 | 3 |
| Dutchess County | 765 | $14.0 million | 1.2% | $1,160 | 4 |
| Schoharie County | 666 | $31.4 million | 1.6% | $1,360 | 6 |
| Chenango County | 632 | $11.4 million | 1.4% | $1,610 | 11 |
| Greene County | 587 | $19.1 million | 1.1% | $1,460 | 6 |
| Saratoga County | 581 | $8.1 million | 0.6% | $1,190 | 2 |
| Cattaraugus County | 493 | $5.1 million | 1.0% | $1,290 | 7 |
| Rensselaer County | 475 | $5.8 million | 1.1% | $1,690 | 5 |
| Otsego County | 463 | $9.0 million | 0.9% | $1,360 | 9 |
| Herkimer County | 422 | $6.1 million | 1.1% | $1,310 | 8 |
| Albany County | 377 | $4.7 million | 0.6% | $860 | 3 |
| Steuben County | 375 | $2.1 million | 1.1% | $1,210 | 7 |
| Putnam County | 373 | $5.4 million | 0.6% | $1,060 | 4 |
| Essex County | 369 | $6.3 million | 0.7% | $1,440 | 9 |
| Cortland County | 358 | $3.4 million | 1.3% | $1,310 | 7 |
| Schenectady County | 357 | $8.3 million | 0.4% | $1,240 | 4 |
| Madison County | 313 | $4.7 million | 1.1% | $1,260 | 9 |
| Chemung County | 304 | $2.6 million | 1.3% | $690 | 4 |
| Clinton County | 296 | $5.2 million | 0.5% | $1,240 | 4 |
| Tompkins County | 290 | $1.9 million | 1.2% | $1,360 | 3 |
| Montgomery County | 288 | $8.9 million | 0.8% | $1,310 | 9 |
| Cayuga County | 265 | $1.5 million | 0.9% | $1,310 | 3 |
| Ontario County | 263 | $3.8 million | 0.7% | $1,360 | 6 |
| Jefferson County | 250 | $2.4 million | 0.6% | $1,040 | 5 |
| Columbia County | 245 | $3.1 million | 0.6% | $1,210 | 6 |
| Oswego County | 221 | $2.5 million | 0.5% | $1,160 | 4 |
| Wayne County | 209 | $2.5 million | 0.4% | $1,010 | 3 |
| Allegany County | 193 | $714,840 | 0.9% | $1,360 | 9 |
| Niagara County | 184 | $825,609 | 0.6% | $860 | 8 |
| Yates County | 149 | $1.1 million | 1.5% | $1,390 | 6 |
| Genesee County | 137 | $1.9 million | 1.0% | $1,260 | 4 |
| Washington County | 136 | $1.4 million | 0.4% | $1,210 | 1 |
| Fulton County | 116 | $873,738 | 0.3% | $1,260 | 4 |
| Warren County | 116 | $1.8 million | 0.4% | $1,390 | 6 |
| Wyoming County | 113 | $974,839 | 0.5% | $1,490 | 4 |
| Seneca County | 108 | $977,123 | 0.9% | $1,090 | 2 |
| Livingston County | 101 | $664,589 | 0.8% | $1,040 | 5 |
| St. Lawrence County | 95 | $1.7 million | 0.3% | $1,210 | 5 |
| Franklin County | 40 | $178,511 | 0.4% | $1,240 | 5 |
| Orleans County | 39 | $139,411 | 0.3% | $790 | 6 |
| Lewis County | 38 | $455,559 | 0.4% | $1,210 | 8 |
| Hamilton County | 35 | $719,015 | 0.8% | $1,440 | 7 |
| Schuyler County | 30 | $409,911 | 0.4% | $1,090 | 3 |
Flood-related FEMA disaster declarations in New York
Declarations since 2000 that FEMA lists as involving flooding. "Help for individuals" means FEMA's Individual Assistance was approved for at least part of the area.
| Declaration | Declared | Event | Help for individuals |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR-4839-NY | Oct 21, 2024 | Severe Storm and Flooding | No |
| DR-4825-NY | Sep 24, 2024 | Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby | No |
| DR-4818-NY | Sep 20, 2024 | Severe Storm and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-4814-NY | Aug 29, 2024 | Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Flooding | No |
| EM-3613-NY | Aug 25, 2024 | Severe Storm and Flooding | No |
| DR-4755-NY | Jan 30, 2024 | Severe Storm and Flooding | No |
| DR-4723-NY | Jul 22, 2023 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| EM-3590-NY | Dec 26, 2022 | Severe Winter Storm | No |
| DR-4472-NY | Dec 19, 2019 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | No |
| DR-4397-NY | Oct 1, 2018 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-4348-NY | Nov 14, 2017 | Flooding | No |
| DR-4204-NY | Dec 22, 2014 | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding | No |
| DR-4180-NY | Jul 8, 2014 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-4129-NY | Jul 12, 2013 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-1993-NY | Jun 10, 2011 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds | No |
| DR-1899-NY | Apr 16, 2010 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-1869-NY | Dec 31, 2009 | Severe Storms and Flooding Assoc W Td Ida & Nor'Easter | No |
| DR-1857-NY | Sep 1, 2009 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1724-NY | Aug 31, 2007 | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornado | Yes |
| DR-1710-NY | Jul 2, 2007 | Severe Storms and Flooding | No |
| DR-1692-NY | Apr 24, 2007 | Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1670-NY | Dec 12, 2006 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1665-NY | Oct 24, 2006 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1650-NY | Jul 1, 2006 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
| DR-1589-NY | Apr 19, 2005 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Yes |
Showing the 25 most recent of 29.
What to do with this
A county's history doesn't tell you your own building's risk. To see your property's flood zone, use FEMA's flood map lookup. To weigh coverage, start with do I need flood insurance? and what flood insurance costs.
Where these numbers come from
All figures on this page are calculated from FEMA's public OpenFEMA datasets:
- NFIP Redacted Claims (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP claims since 1978, downloaded 2026-10-08. Dollar amounts are what the NFIP paid, not adjusted for inflation. Claims filed under private flood insurance aren't included.
- NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (v1) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP residential policy contracts in force (as of August 3, 2026) divided by FEMA's count of residential buildings from the National Structure Inventory. FEMA notes that inventory is incomplete in some counties, which can inflate the rate. Private flood policies aren't counted.
- NFIP Redacted Policies (v3) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): NFIP policies in force on June 30, 2026 (a policy counts if its term covers that date and it wasn't cancelled), downloaded 2026-10-08. Policy counts are FEMA's insured units, so a condominium association policy counts each unit. Costs are FEMA's "policy cost" (premium plus reserve fund assessment, federal policy fee and HFIAA surcharge) for single-family homes only. Policies FEMA's data doesn't place in a county count toward the state only.
- Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2) (FEMA (OpenFEMA)): disaster declarations, downloaded 2026-10-08. We count a declaration as flood-related when FEMA lists flooding (or a dam or levee break) as its incident type or a designated incident type, or the declaration's title mentions flooding.
FEMA's redacted claims data doesn't identify properties, and FEMA notes that some records lack a county or flood zone. See how we use the data.