Photo: J. Passepartout · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Hornby 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, Hornby gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1996.
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 Hornby 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 Hornby’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hornby, and Hornby’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
B− higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hornby’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $362K a year in losses across Hornby: $271K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hornby flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hornby, from FEMA’s records: 4.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hornby isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Steuben County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Hornby
Disasters that paid out in Hornby itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hornby), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$200K to the Town of Hornby for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Steuben 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 Hornby after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hornby archive →Hornby and its neighbors
Hornby is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corning | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Catlin | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hornby | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Orange | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Erwin | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
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 Hornby 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 Hornby
Is Hornby at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hornby has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− 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 Hornby flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Hornby since 1996, $12K in all, or 4.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hornby 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 Steuben County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Hornby?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hornby’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 Hornby?
By FEMA money that reached Hornby, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2003): $200K to the Town of Hornby for repairs.
Is Hornby at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Hornby’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hornby.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hornby’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.