Suffolk County
New York — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Suffolk County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.3, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and coastal flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $321M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | Very High | 10.34 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 3.79 / yr | $25M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.54 / yr | $193M |
| Strong Wind | High | 3.17 / yr | $6M |
| Lightning | Very High | 23.80 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.20 / yr | $43M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 0.67 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $21M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.55 / yr | $14M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 3.87 / yr | $7M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.18 / yr | $33K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.47 / yr | $4M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $265K |
| Hail | Low | 1.29 / yr | $186K |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $686 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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 Suffolk County?
Suffolk County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.3 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Suffolk County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL), Coastal Flood (Very High, $25M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $193M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Suffolk County compare to other New York counties?
Suffolk County ranks #6 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. Suffolk County's $321M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.