North Ridge United Methodist Church · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Cambria than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cambria gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #104 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1978.
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 Cambria 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
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 Cambria’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cambria, and Cambria’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
A #104 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Cambria’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Cambria has less expected damage per building than 86% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Cambria: $844K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cambria flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cambria, from FEMA’s records: 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy2 claims · $60K
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $16K
Cambria isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Niagara County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cambria
Disasters that paid out in Cambria itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Cambria), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Town of Cambria for repairs
- 2001Snow$12K to the Town of Cambria for repairs
- 1999Snow$13K to the Town of Cambria for repairs
Niagara County has had 20 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 Cambria after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cambria archive →Cambria and its neighbors
Cambria is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wilson | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cambria | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Wheatfield | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Lockport | — | not graded yet | |
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 Cambria 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.
- 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 Cambria
Is Cambria at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cambria has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #104 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cambria flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Cambria since 1978, $336K in all, or 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (2).
Is Cambria 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 Niagara County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cambria?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cambria’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 Cambria?
By FEMA money that reached Cambria, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2022): $24K to the Town of Cambria for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 2 paid, $60K.
Is Cambria at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Cambria’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cambria.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cambria’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.