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CR signage in New Albion NYPhoto: Adam Moss · CC BY-SA 2.0
B−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in New Albion · FEMA

FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in New Albion as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Albion gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1992.

River and rain flooding 94%Tornadoes 2%Strong wind 2%

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

more than 54%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
B−
in New York · higher than 54% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
94% of expected building damage
Flood claims
3
paid since 1992 · $14K
Disasters paid out here
9
of 20 declared for Cattaraugus County
By hazard

What New Albion 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

94%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Hurricanes Earthquakes Ice storms Hail Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind New Albion’s grade

River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Albion, and New Albion’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.

Where New Albion sits
New Albion
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B− higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).

New Albion’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding94%Everything else6%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $914K a year in losses across New Albion: $801K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. New Albion covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does New Albion flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1992

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Albion, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1992: 1 claim1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199219962003
19922026
Biggest named events
  • The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $2K
3
paid claims since 1992
$14K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$5K
average claim
of all homes are insured
No community discount

New Albion isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Cattaraugus County.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
1flood-prone property bought out and cleared
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Albion

Disasters that paid out in New Albion itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of New Albion), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$666K to the Town of New Albion for repairs
  2. 2005Record Snow$63K to the Town of New Albion for repairs
  3. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$17K to the Town of New Albion for repairs
  4. 2003Snow$67K to the Town of New Albion for repairs
  5. 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$34K to the Town of New Albion for repairs
  6. 2003Snow$48K to the Town of New Albion for repairs
Show all 9
  1. 2001Snow$6K to the Town of New Albion for repairs
  2. 2000Snow$4K to the Town of New Albion for repairs
  3. 1999Snow$3K to the Town of New Albion for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in New AlbionCattaraugus County only

Cattaraugus County has had 20 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of New Albion after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the New Albion archive →
Next door

New Albion and its neighbors

New Albion is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Persia: hazard risk CMansfield: not gradedLeon: hazard risk B+Napoli: hazard risk C−PersiaMansfieldLeonNapoliNew Albion
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
LeonB+less damage than 66%river and rain flooding1
New AlbionB−more damage than 54%river and rain flooding3
PersiaCmore damage than 71%river and rain flooding—
NapoliC−more damage than 75%river and rain flooding2
Mansfield—691 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what New Albion faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in New Albion

Is New Albion at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Albion has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does New Albion flood?

Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in New Albion since 1992, $14K in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (1).

Is New Albion 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 Cattaraugus County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in New Albion?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Albion’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 New Albion?

By FEMA money that reached New Albion, Severe Storms and Flooding (2014): $666K to the Town of New Albion for repairs. By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 1 paid, $2K.

Is New Albion at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and New Albion’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Albion.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Albion’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.