FEMA puts Hornellsville’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hornellsville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #663 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1981.
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 Hornellsville 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 Hornellsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hornellsville, and Hornellsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C #663 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hornellsville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Hornellsville has more expected damage per building than 87% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Hornellsville: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hornellsville flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hornellsville, from FEMA’s records: 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hornellsville 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hornellsville
Disasters that paid out in Hornellsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hornellsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$40K to the Town of Hornellsville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$16K to the Town of Hornellsville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$51K to the Town of Hornellsville for repairs
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 Hornellsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hornellsville archive →Hornellsville and its neighbors
Hornellsville is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Dansville | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hornellsville | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Almond | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Canisteo | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Burns | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Fremont | — | 794 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Hartsville | — | 512 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 Hornellsville 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 Hornellsville
Is Hornellsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hornellsville has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #663 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). 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 Hornellsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Hornellsville since 1981, $61K in all, or 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hornellsville 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 Hornellsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hornellsville’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 Hornellsville?
By FEMA money that reached Hornellsville, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2003): $51K to the Town of Hornellsville for repairs.
Is Hornellsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Hornellsville’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hornellsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hornellsville’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.