Friendship Free Library · Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Friendship’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Friendship gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2003.
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 Friendship 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 Friendship’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Friendship, and Friendship’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Friendship’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Friendship: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Friendship flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Friendship, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Friendship isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Allegany County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Friendship
Disasters that paid out in Friendship itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Friendship), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$19K to the Town of Friendship for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$46K to the Town of Friendship for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$68K to the Town of Friendship for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$110K to the Town of Friendship for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes88 households applied for aid$123K aid approved$283K to the Town of Friendship for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Friendship for repairs
Allegany County has had 19 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; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Friendship after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Friendship archive →Friendship and its neighbors
Friendship is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuba | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wirt | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Belfast | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Friendship | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Amity | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
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 Friendship 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 Friendship
Is Friendship at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Friendship has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Friendship flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Friendship since 2003, $9K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Friendship 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 Allegany County, 0.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Friendship?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Friendship’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 Friendship?
By FEMA money that reached Friendship, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2003): 88 households applied for aid, $123K approved, and $283K to the Town of Friendship for repairs.
Is Friendship at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Friendship’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Friendship.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Friendship’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.