Salem Welsh Church · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Freedom than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Freedom gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2000.
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 Freedom 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 Freedom’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Freedom, and Freedom’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Freedom’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $992K a year in losses across Freedom: $874K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Freedom flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2000
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Freedom, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Freedom isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cattaraugus County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Freedom
Disasters that paid out in Freedom itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Freedom), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$69K to the Town of Freedom for repairs
- 2000Snow$3K to the Town of Freedom for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$47K to the Town of Freedom for repairs
Cattaraugus 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 Freedom after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Freedom archive →Freedom and its neighbors
Freedom is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Freedom | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Rushford | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Farmersville | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Arcade | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Arcade | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Centerville | — | 700 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Freedom 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 Freedom
Is Freedom at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Freedom has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). 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 Freedom flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Freedom since 2000, $81K in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Freedom 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 Cattaraugus County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Freedom?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Freedom’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 Freedom?
By FEMA money that reached Freedom, Severe Storms and Flooding (2009): $69K to the Town of Freedom for repairs.
Is Freedom at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Freedom’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Freedom.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Freedom’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.