Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Albany than in 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Albany gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #309 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 50 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Albany’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
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.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
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
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Albany, and Albany’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #309 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Albany’s residents live in 29 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Albany has less expected damage per building than 59% of New York towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Albany has lower expected damage per building than 87% (#53 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $20.5M, is the 388th largest of those 400.
Does Albany flood? Sometimes: 50 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Albany, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene10 claims · $312K
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $47K
- The April 2007 nor’easter2 claims · $8K
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: Albany County.8 federal disasters 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.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$304K to the City of Albany for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene226 households applied for aid$253K aid approved$512K to the City of Albany for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $312K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$269K to the City of Albany for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding97 households applied for aid$103K aid approved$28K to the City of Albany for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$83K to the City of Albany for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$352K to the City of Albany for repairs
Show all 8
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the City of Albany for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$185K to the City of Albany for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $47K
Albany County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilderland | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Colonie | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
| Menands | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Bethlehem | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Albany | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Rensselaer | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Roessleville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Westmere | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Loudonville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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.
- 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #309 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Albany flood?
Flood insurance has paid 50 claims in Albany since 1979, $922K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (10).
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 Albany County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% 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, Hurricane Irene (2011): 226 households applied for aid, $253K approved, and $512K to the City of Albany for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 10 paid, $312K.
Is Albany at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Albany’s rate for it is lower than 53% 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.