Wolcott Square Historic District · Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Wolcott’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wolcott gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #224 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1993.
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 Wolcott 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 Wolcott’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wolcott, and Wolcott’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
A #224 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Wolcott’s 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, Wolcott has less expected damage per building than 71% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $995K a year in losses across Wolcott: $879K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wolcott flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wolcott, 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.
Wolcott isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wayne County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wolcott
Disasters that paid out in Wolcott itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wolcott), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Flooding$194K to the Town of Wolcott for repairs
- 2003Ice Storm$45K to the Town of Wolcott for repairs
- 1999Snow$11K to the Town of Wolcott for repairs
Wayne County has had 11 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter 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 Wolcott after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wolcott archive →Wolcott and its neighbors
Wolcott 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butler | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Huron | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 54 |
| Wolcott | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Victory | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sterling | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Red Creek | — | 699 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 Wolcott 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 Wolcott
Is Wolcott at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wolcott has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #224 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). 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 Wolcott flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Wolcott since 1993, $102K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Wolcott 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 Wayne County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Wolcott?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wolcott’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 Wolcott?
By FEMA money that reached Wolcott, Flooding (2017): $194K to the Town of Wolcott for repairs.
Is Wolcott at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Wolcott’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wolcott.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wolcott’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.