When you hear the phrase “natural disaster in New York”, you might picture hurricanes or earthquakes that frequent headlines. Or, you may imagine scenes from a movie, such as the massive tsunami submerging Manhattan in The Day After Tomorrow (2004).
However, New York doesn’t sit on a major fault line, so strong earthquakes are rare. Similarly, the state’s risk for tsunamis is minimal, i.e., there is a low probability that a tsunami will hit New York. Hurricanes, too, don’t occur as often in the state as in other states along the East Coast. And, the infamous nor’easters beset the state most frequently between September and April only.
Aside from these, New York also experiences severe storms, wildfires, winter storms, and droughts. In short, the state faces a diverse array of threats that residents have learned to expect and prepare for. But, which type of natural disaster strikes most frequently?
The most frequent and widespread threat that disrupts daily life, damages property, and strains local infrastructure across the state year after year is flooding. It is the most common natural disaster that New York consistently faces, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). From downstate cities to upstate rural communities, floods affect all types of New York neighborhoods without discrimination and the aftermath is costly and even dangerous.
New York’s Flooding Risk
Water played a big role in the development of New York into the Empire State. From Native Americans to colonists, areas near the state’s water resources attracted settlers because of access to fertile land, water for agriculture, and transportation. As such, communities near the Great Lakes, the Hudson River, and the Erie Canal, for instance, quickly grew to power and drive the economy of the region.
Because of this strong economic connection, coastal areas developed into densely populated locations. According to Mitigate NY, around 90% of the Empire State’s residents live along coastal areas like streams, rivers, lakes, and ocean. The state of New York ranks third when it comes to coastal populations, with 15.9 million people living in coastal counties, behind California and Florida, with 26.8 million and 16.2 million, respectively, based on 2020 data.
However, living near water naturally comes with flooding risks. Today, flooding has become a huge challenge in the state. According to Cornell University, the flooding rate of New York is 83 flooding episodes per year. And, no county is safe.
Due to a combination of factors, such as physical/geographical vulnerability, transformation of natural landscapes, and climate change, New York is at risk of various types of flooding.
Flash Floods
This is the only type of flood that threatens all of New York state. A combination of several factors contribute to this risk, including heavy rainfall, snowmelt, river systems, mountainous terrain, urbanization, and climate change.
Urban Flooding
In the Empire State, urban flooding typically threatens low-lying coastal areas, such as parts of New York City. Rising sea levels and storm surges from tropical storms and hurricanes both contribute to this risk.
Riverine Flooding
This is another common type of flooding in New York, which has many rivers and waterways. They typically occur when rivers and streams overflow their banks due to heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or other precipitation events.
Ice Jam Flooding
From early winter to late spring, New York state experiences ice jam flooding. The exact location where they occur varies from year to year due to weather conditions and the formation of ice on rivers and streams. However, regions in upstate New York and the North Country are at higher risk. Urbanized areas with infrastructure like bridges and culverts that obstruct river flow are also susceptible to ice jam flooding.
Local Stormwater & Drainage Flooding
This type of flooding is caused by stormwater runoff. Occurrence is typically limited to localized areas.
Beaver Dam-Related Flooding
Beavers and their dams can cause flooding in areas where they are active. Their dams can block streams, creeks, and rivers and cause water levels to rise when snow melts.
Table 1. Types of Floods That Affect New York State.
| Type of Flood | Vulnerable Areas |
| Flash Floods | Anywhere in New York state |
| Urban Flooding | Low-lying coastal areas, such as parts of New York City |
| Riverine (Overbank) Flooding | Areas near the Hudson River, Mohawk River, Susquehanna River, Genesee River, Allegheny River, Black River, and their streams and tributaries |
| Ice Jam Flooding | Upstate New York, North Country, urbanized areas |
| Stormwater and Drainage Flooding | Localized areas |
| Beaver Dam-Related Flooding | Localized areas |
Source: Mitigate NY
Consequences of New York Flooding
One estimate puts the cost of being unprepared for future coastal storm and flood-related events at $55 billion in the next decade for the state. But, more than the monetary or financial cost, flood events result in a lot of damage, including:
- Transit service disruption,
- Bridge and road closures,
- Severe damage to buildings and their contents,
- Damage to electrical and communication networks,
- Sewage backup,
- Contamination of drinking water sources,
- Biodiversity loss, and
- Agricultural loss.
Furthermore, flooding also comes with many potential cascading effects, including:
- Injuries,
- Loss of life,
- Health impacts,
- School closings,
- Hours lost in traffic rerouting and traffic challenges,
- Loss of hourly wages for those unable to reach their workplaces,
- Disruptions in local, regional, and national supply chains, and
- Temporary or permanent displacement from homes.
Table 2. Consequences of the Various Types of Floods in New York State.
| Type of Flood | Consequences |
| Flash Floods | Knock down a person, Sweep away a vehicle, Wash away stream banks and roads, Carve out new water channels, Rip trees and other vegetation, Wash out culverts, and Destroy buildings and bridges |
| Urban Flooding | Causes sewage lines to back up, Exposes people to health issues, and If stagnant for long periods, can increase potential damage to buildings and infrastructure |
| Riverine (Overbank) Flooding | Damages property, Disrupts transportation and infrastructure, and Exposes the public to safety risks |
| Ice Jam Flooding | Creates temporary lakes, Floods homes and roads along rivers, Can result in flash flooding with large ice pieces, |
| Stormwater and Drainage Flooding | Overloads drainageways, Can lead to overflow of drainage into the streets and low-lying areas, Inundates yards, Floods homes and businesses, especially basements and first floors |
| Beaver Dam-Related Flooding | Water can collect in roads and other areas, causing potholes and road instability, Floods homes and crops in upstream areas, Plugs culverts and drainpipes which cause flooded driveways, roadways, and more, Can interfere with sewer systems, Can cause water supply contamination |
Sources: Mitigate NY and the National Weather Service