Millville Cemetery · Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Shelby than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shelby gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #159 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims 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 Shelby 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 Shelby’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shelby, and Shelby’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
A #159 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Shelby’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Shelby has less expected damage per building than 79% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $876K a year in losses across Shelby: $711K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shelby flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shelby, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Shelby 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shelby
Disasters that paid out in Shelby itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Shelby), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of Shelby for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$34K to the Town of Shelby for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the Town of Shelby for repairs
- 1999Snow$9K to the Town of Shelby for repairs
- 1999Snow$10K to the Town of Shelby 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 Shelby after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shelby archive →Shelby and its neighbors
Shelby is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgeway | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Barre | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Shelby | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Royalton | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Alabama | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Shelby 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 Shelby
Is Shelby at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shelby has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #159 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Shelby flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Shelby since 1979, $820 in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Shelby 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 Shelby?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shelby’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 Shelby?
By FEMA money that reached Shelby, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): $34K to the Town of Shelby for repairs.
Is Shelby at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Shelby’s rate for it is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shelby.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shelby’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.