US Post Office-Clyde · Photo: Jimmy Emerson from Dalton GA · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Galen as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Galen gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #459 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims 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 Galen 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 Galen’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Galen, and Galen’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
B #459 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Galen’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Galen has more expected damage per building than 61% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Galen: $906K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Galen flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Galen, from FEMA’s records: 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $30K
Galen isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Galen
Disasters that paid out in Galen itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Galen), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Ice Storm$23K to the Town of Galen for repairs
- 1999Snow$6K to the Town of Galen for repairs
Wayne County has had 11 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter 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 Galen after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Galen archive →Galen and its neighbors
Galen is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Butler | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Junius | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Savannah | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Galen | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Lyons | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Tyre | — | 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 Galen 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 Galen
Is Galen at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Galen has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #459 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Galen flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Galen since 1979, $106K in all, or 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (1).
Is Galen 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 Wayne County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Galen?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Galen’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 Galen?
By FEMA money that reached Galen, Ice Storm (2003): $23K to the Town of Galen for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 1 paid, $30K.
Is Galen at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Galen’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Galen.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Galen’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.