Randolph Historic District · Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Randolph than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Randolph gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1979.
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 Randolph 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 Randolph’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Randolph, and Randolph’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Randolph’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Randolph: $945K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Randolph flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Randolph, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Randolph 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Randolph
Disasters that paid out in Randolph itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Randolph), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$513K to the Town of Randolph for repairs
- 2001Snow$9K to the Town of Randolph for repairs
- 2000Snow$6K to the Town of Randolph for repairs
- 1999Snow$3K to the Town of Randolph for repairs
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.
Old photos of Randolph after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Randolph archive →Randolph and its neighbors
Randolph is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conewango | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Randolph | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Poland | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| South Valley | — | 273 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Coldspring | — | 616 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 Randolph 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 Randolph
Is Randolph at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Randolph has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). 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 Randolph flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Randolph since 1979, $261 in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Randolph 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 Randolph?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Randolph’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 Randolph?
By FEMA money that reached Randolph, Severe Storms and Flooding (2014): $513K to the Town of Randolph for repairs.
Is Randolph at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Randolph’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Randolph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Randolph’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.