Enter any address in Essex County, New York to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Essex County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 65 flood events and 59 flash flood events. For example, remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl contributed to numerous reports of locally severe flash flooding across the county in July 2024. Another event in July 2025 involved localized heavy rainfall causing flash flooding in the form of a landslide.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $17,186 and an average water depth of 7.3 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have also seen significant payouts, averaging $26,668 with an average water depth of 10.7 feet, though with fewer claims. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, Zone X_UNSHADED, and Zone X_SHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
86 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Essex County, New York has recorded 128 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 59 flash floods and 65 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1993–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 8, 2024 |
| Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | Jul 10, 2024 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 9, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 31, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Mar 14, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jun 26, 2013 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2025 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 150.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2023 | 75.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 2.00M |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2023 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2023 | 75.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2023 | 250.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2025
A weak cold front slowly moved across northern NY during the afternoon and evening hours of July 13th. Several rounds of tropical showers and thunderstorms traversed the area with a few storms pulsing to severe limits. In addition, localized heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in the form of a landslide.
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2024
The remnants of TS Beryl combined with deep tropical moisture and a stationary front draped across the region produced multiple rounds of heavy showers and storms. This led to numerous reports of flash flooding, some locally severe across portions of eastern New York, mainly in Essex County.
Flash Flood — Jul 24, 2023
Scattered showers and thunderstorms affected portions of eastern New York during the afternoon and early evening hours of July 24. A few storms produced heavy rainfall, leading to isolated reports of flash flooding in Essex County, NY.
Flood — Dec 18, 2023
A very deep trough across the eastern seaboard allowed a deep, mild, moist flow from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean to feed into the northeast United States, including VT and NY on December 17th and 18th.||Surface low pressure across Florida on December 17th moved north along the eastern seaboard into New England on December 18th. Mild, moist air delivered 1.5 to 3+ inches of rainfal...
Flash Flood — Aug 16, 2023
Persistent shower and thunderstorm activity affected portions of eastern Essex County, NY during the afternoon of August 16, 2023. The towns of Moriah and Westport received between one and three inches of rain leading to a few areas of flash flooding.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Essex County, New York:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Essex County, New York that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.