Natural hazards · Valley Stream

Valley Stream, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Valley Stream comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 232 claims here since 1978. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Valley Stream?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Valley Stream to be higher than in 36% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding67%Earthquakes11%Hurricanes7%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Valley Stream faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

67% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 54% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

11% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

WildfireDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Valley Stream flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Valley Stream, from FEMA’s records.

232paid claims since 1978

$4.0Mpaid to owners

30homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Sandy: 55 claims, $1.8M
Late-September New York Flooding: 37 claims, $555K
Hurricane Irene: 34 claims, $206K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Valley Stream isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Nassau County.

Disasters that hit Valley Stream

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Valley Stream itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Village of Valley Stream.

Brought FEMA money into Valley StreamDeclared for Nassau County only

2023

Severe Storm and Flooding

$202K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

226 households applied for aid $190K aid approved

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$478K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

2,394 households applied for aid $4.8M aid approved $1.4M to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

131 households applied for aid $181K aid approved $170K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$85K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

$71K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs

2003

Snow

$50K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$5K to the Village of Valley Stream for repairs

Nassau County has had 24 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Valley Stream

Valley Stream and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Malvernemostly inland floodingModerate

Valley Streammostly inland floodingLow

Hempsteadmostly inland floodingLow

Lynbrookmostly inland floodingLow

New Yorkmostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Valley Stream covers 6 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Valley Stream’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Village of Valley Stream. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Valley Stream total about $7.1M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.