Peterson House · Photo: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Albany than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Albany gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #568 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (78%), then river and rain flooding (22%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Albany faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Albany’s grade
Earthquakes are 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Albany, and Albany’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 22% (higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts).
D− #568 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Albany’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Albany has more expected damage per building than 67% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $19.9M a year in losses across Albany: $12.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Albany flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Albany. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Albany isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Alameda County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Albany
Disasters that paid out in Albany itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Albany), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides17 households applied for aid$36K aid approved
Alameda County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Albany after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Albany archive →Albany and its neighbors
Albany is 5th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington | Dmore damage than 91% | earthquakes | 1 |
| El Cerrito | Dmore damage than 92% | earthquakes | 15 |
| San Francisco | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 66 |
| Richmond | Dmore damage than 94% | earthquakes | 36 |
| Albany | D−more damage than 95% | earthquakes | 0 |
| Berkeley | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 15 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Albany faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Albany
Is Albany at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Albany has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #568 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (78%) and river and rain flooding (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Albany in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Alameda County, 36% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Albany?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Albany’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Albany?
By FEMA money that reached Albany, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 17 households applied for aid, $36K approved.
Is Albany at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Albany’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Albany.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Albany’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.