Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Albion’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Albion gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1980.
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 Albion 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 Albion’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Albion, and Albion’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A− lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Albion’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $281K a year in losses across Albion: $242K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Albion flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Albion, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Albion 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Albion
Disasters that paid out in Albion itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Albion), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances7 households applied for aid$37K aid approved
Erie County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Albion after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Albion archive →Get ready for what Albion 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 Albion
Is Albion at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Albion has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). 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 Albion flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Albion since 1980, $15K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Albion 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, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Albion?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Albion’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 Albion?
By FEMA money that reached Albion, Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances (2004): 7 households applied for aid, $37K approved.
Is Albion at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Albion’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Albion.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Albion’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.