Germania Wine Cellars · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainFEMA puts Urbana’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Urbana gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1978.
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 Urbana 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 Urbana’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Urbana, and Urbana’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Urbana’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Urbana: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Urbana flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Urbana, from FEMA’s records: 8.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Blizzard of 19931 claim · $811
Urbana 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Urbana
Disasters that paid out in Urbana itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Urbana), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$56K to the Town of Urbana for repairs
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$22K to the Town of Urbana for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$33K to the Town of Urbana for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$63K to the Town of Urbana for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
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 Urbana after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Urbana archive →Urbana and its neighbors
Urbana is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Prattsburgh | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Bath | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Pulteney | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Urbana | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Wayne | — | not graded yet | |
| Bradford | — | 695 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 Urbana 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 Urbana
Is Urbana at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Urbana has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). 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 Urbana flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Urbana since 1978, $158K in all, or 8.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Blizzard of 1993 (1).
Is Urbana 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 Urbana?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Urbana’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 Urbana?
By FEMA money that reached Urbana, Severe Storms and Flooding (2000): $63K to the Town of Urbana for repairs. By flood claims, Blizzard of 1993: 1 paid, $811.
Is Urbana at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Urbana’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Urbana.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Urbana’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.