Photo: Pollinator (Uploads) · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Gainesville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gainesville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gainesville, and Gainesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Gainesville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $967K a year in losses across Gainesville: $824K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gainesville flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gainesville, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Gainesville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wyoming County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gainesville
Disasters that paid out in Gainesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Gainesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2001Snow$8K to the Town of Gainesville for repairs
- 1999Snow$1K to the Town of Gainesville for repairs
- 1999Snow$2K to the Town of Gainesville for repairs
Wyoming County has had 18 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 Gainesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gainesville archive →Gainesville and its neighbors
Gainesville is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castile | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Gainesville | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Warsaw | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Pike | — | 812 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Wethersfield | — | 815 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 Gainesville 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 Gainesville
Is Gainesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gainesville has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Gainesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Gainesville since 1979, $2K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Gainesville 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 Wyoming County, 0.5% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Gainesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gainesville’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 Gainesville?
By FEMA money that reached Gainesville, Snow (2001): $8K to the Town of Gainesville for repairs.
Is Gainesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Gainesville’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gainesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gainesville’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.