Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Dansville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dansville gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #493 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1998.
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 Dansville 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 Dansville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dansville, and Dansville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #493 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Dansville’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, Dansville has more expected damage per building than 65% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Dansville: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dansville flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dansville, from FEMA’s records: 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Dansville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Livingston County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Dansville
Disasters that paid out in Dansville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Dansville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes11 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
Livingston County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Dansville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dansville archive →Get ready for what Dansville 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 Dansville
Is Dansville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dansville has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #493 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). 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 Dansville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Dansville since 1998, $51K in all, or 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Dansville 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 Livingston County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Dansville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dansville’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 Dansville?
By FEMA money that reached Dansville, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2003): 11 households applied for aid, $9K approved.
Is Dansville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Dansville’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dansville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dansville’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.