New to Long Island? Your First-Month Checklist: DMV, Voting, Mail and Utilities
Just moved to Nassau or Suffolk? The deadlines for your NY license and car, how to update your voter address and mail, and who…
Updated October 11, 2026
Long Island has miles of bays, harbors and ocean beaches, and many homes sit close to the water. Before you move to one, check the flood risk and the insurance, and plan the move around the weather.
Check the flood map
FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center lets you look up the official flood map for an address. Do it before you sign a contract or lease, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
Know your storm surge zone
Suffolk County’s Office of Emergency Management has an interactive storm surge zone map: enter an address to see its zone. If you are moving to Nassau County, ask the county or your village about evacuation routes for your new address.
Flood insurance takes time
FEMA says most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, and there is typically a 30-day waiting period before a National Flood Insurance Program policy goes into effect. There are exceptions, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing. Ask your insurance agent early, not in the last week before the move.
Hurricane season and moving day
The National Hurricane Center says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and its peak is September 10. If your move falls in late summer or early fall, keep the date a little flexible and watch the forecast in the days before. Keep documents, insurance papers and medicines in a waterproof bag that travels with you.
Set up the new home with water in mind
In a flood-prone house, do not store photos, papers or valuables on a basement floor. Before moving day, decide which items go up high or to an upper floor, and tell the crew.
Common questions
How do I check if a Long Island home is in a flood zone?
Look up the address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center and, in Suffolk, on the county storm surge zone map.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
FEMA says most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage; flood insurance is a separate policy.
How long before flood insurance starts?
FEMA says there is typically a 30-day waiting period for an NFIP policy, with some exceptions such as a policy required at a loan closing.
When is hurricane season on Long Island?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with its peak on September 10.
Get your free estimate
Call (516) 246-5901 or send the quote form on our home page with both addresses, the floors, elevator or stairs, your date and your main items. Moving Service By Two Guys is part of A & A Alliance Moving Inc, a family business since 1999, licensed and insured: NYSDOT 34875, NJPM 000930, U.S. DOT No. 967970. More on our company facts page.
Rules and services change. We checked the official links on this page on October 11, 2026; confirm on the linked page before you act.
Official sources
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center
- FEMA: Flood insurance
- Suffolk County OEM: Storm surge zone interactive map
- NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology
More Long Island moving guides
- Moving insurance explained
- Moving in Suffolk County: Huntington, Smithtown and beyond
- Moving in Nassau County: Hempstead, Garden City and Great Neck
- Long Island movers guide: Nassau and Suffolk County
- Moving to the East End: The Hamptons, the North Fork and Shelter Island
- New to Long Island? Your First-Month Checklist: DMV, Voting, Mail and Utilities
