Photo: Mitchazenia · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Wales as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wales gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #525 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). 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 Wales 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 Wales’ grade
River and rain flooding is 98% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wales, and Wales’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #525 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Wales’ 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, Wales has more expected damage per building than 69% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $942K a year in losses across Wales: $785K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wales flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wales, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Wales isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Erie County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wales
Disasters that paid out in Wales itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wales), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$5K to the Town of Wales for repairs
- 2001Snow$6K to the Town of Wales for repairs
- 2000Snow$2K to the Town of Wales for repairs
- 1999Snow$3K to the Town of Wales for repairs
Erie 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 Wales after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wales archive →Wales and its neighbors
Wales is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheldon | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Aurora | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Bennington | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Marilla | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Holland | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wales | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Wales 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 Wales
Is Wales at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wales has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #525 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). 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 Wales flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Wales since 1979, $2K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Wales 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 Erie County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wales?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wales’ 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 Wales?
By FEMA money that reached Wales, Snow (2001): $6K to the Town of Wales for repairs.
Is Wales at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (98%), and Wales’ rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wales.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wales’ 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.