Hillside Cemetery · Photo: Steven Hamsness · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Murray than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Murray gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #96 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Murray 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 Murray’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Murray, and Murray’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
A #96 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Murray’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, Murray has less expected damage per building than 87% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $742K a year in losses across Murray: $598K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Murray flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Murray. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Murray isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orleans County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Murray
Disasters that paid out in Murray itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Murray), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of Murray for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$21K to the Town of Murray for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the Town of Murray for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$20K to the Town of Murray for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$750 to the Town of Murray for repairs
- 1999Snow$13K to the Town of Murray for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Snow$11K to the Town of Murray for repairs
Orleans 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 Murray after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Murray archive →Murray and its neighbors
Murray is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkson | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Gaines | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Holley | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Murray | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Clarendon | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Kendall | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Murray 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 Murray
Is Murray at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Murray has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #96 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). 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.
Is Murray 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 Orleans County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Murray?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Murray’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 Murray?
By FEMA money that reached Murray, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $21K to the Town of Murray for repairs.
Is Murray at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Murray’s rate for it is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Murray.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Murray’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.