Westchester County
New York — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Westchester County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.2, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $210M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | Very High | 4.97 / yr | $8M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 4.14 / yr | $148M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 12.50 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Very High | 28.70 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.18 / yr | $7M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $13M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.02 / yr | $9M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.14 / yr | $15M |
| Landslide | Medium | 0.52 / yr | $85K |
| Ice Storm | High | 1.27 / yr | $927K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 5.42 / yr | $2M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.16 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $66K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.31 / yr | $126K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.97 / yr | $26K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $104 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Westchester County?
Westchester County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.2 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Westchester County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Very High, $8M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $148M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Westchester County compare to other New York counties?
Westchester County ranks #8 of 62 New York counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Westchester County's $210M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.