FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Howard as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Howard gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1993.
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 Howard 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 Howard’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Howard, and Howard’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
B− lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Howard’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $472K a year in losses across Howard: $396K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Howard flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Howard, from FEMA’s records: 15.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Howard 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Howard
Disasters that paid out in Howard itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Howard), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$610K to the Town of Howard for repairs
- 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred$575K to the Town of Howard for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$35K to the Town of Howard for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$72K to the Town of Howard for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$67K to the Town of Howard 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 Howard after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Howard archive →Howard and its neighbors
Howard 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Avoca | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Howard | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Cohocton | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hornellsville | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Canisteo | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Fremont | — | 794 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 Howard 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 Howard
Is Howard at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Howard has lower expected damage per building than 54% 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 Howard flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Howard since 1993, $86K in all, or 15.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Howard 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 Howard?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Howard’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 Howard?
By FEMA money that reached Howard, Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby (2024): $610K to the Town of Howard for repairs.
Is Howard at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Howard’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Howard.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Howard’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.