Home › New York › Allegany County

Allegany County, New York

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
32nd of 62highest risk in New York
$27Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Allegany County, New York has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 70% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $27 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $579 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (remnants of tropical storm debby). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (205 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $715,000 on 193 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Allegany County

$23.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$863,636 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Strong wind

Moderate
$840,777 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate84.6
$24M
TornadoLow41.5
$864K
Strong windModerate67.1
$841K
Cold waveLow41.0
$645K
LightningModerate61.2
$330K
HurricaneLow64.1
$303K
HailVery Low22.9
$79K
EarthquakeVery Low27.0
$52K
Ice stormLow34.7
$39K
Heat waveVery Low14.5
$32K
Winter weatherLow31.5
$30K
LandslideLow73.4
$8K
WildfireVery Low19.7
$7K
DroughtVery Low19.9
$4K
AvalancheVery Low26.5
$72

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Allegany County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm7
Hurricane3
Snowstorm2
Fire1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Sep 24, 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm DebbyMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm FredMajor disaster
Jul 8, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 12, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jun 10, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Oct 1, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 21
Aug 29, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Mar 21, 1991Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 25, 1984Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 2, 1975Storms, Rains, Landslides & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
Oct 30, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

New York also had 12 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 462 storm reports in Allegany County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 38 injuries and about $20.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 3, 1993 near Angelica.

11tornadoes
31hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
304damaging thunderstorm winds
106floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 3, 1993F2Angelica0 / 0
Apr 28, 2002F2Belfast0 / 0
Aug 9, 2009EF1Rawson0 / 0
Jul 20, 2017EF1Angelica0 / 0
Jun 27, 2010EF1Paynesville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 23, 2003Flash FloodBelfast$7M
Aug 9, 2003Flash FloodAngelica$2M
Apr 26, 2011Flash FloodScio$1M
Aug 5, 2003Flash FloodAndover$1M
Aug 5, 2003Flash FloodWellsville$1M
Aug 9, 2000Flash FloodHume$750K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1876, 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Allegany County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 62 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
3tropical storms
1955most recent: Connie

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 50 mph63 mi
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph61 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Allegany County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (205 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$714,840paid on 193 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $323,324 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Allegany County

$101,700median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1966median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
16.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 23,540 housing units.

Compare in New York

All 62 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Kings CountyHighInland flooding
Queens CountyHighInland flooding
New York CountyHighInland flooding
Suffolk CountyHighInland flooding
Bronx CountyHighInland flooding
Nassau CountyHighInland flooding
Westchester CountyHighInland flooding
Erie CountyHighInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Steuben CountyLow21
Cattaraugus CountyModerate22
Livingston CountyLow16
Wyoming CountyVery Low20
McKean County, PALow11
Potter County, PAVery Low12

Common questions about Allegany County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Allegany County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Allegany County, about $23.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $863,636.

How many federal disasters has Allegany County had?

Allegany County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.

Is Allegany County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd highest of 62 in New York. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Allegany County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Allegany County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Allegany County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Allegany County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 3, 1993 near Angelica. The weather service has also logged 31 hail reports and 106 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Allegany County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 3 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Allegany County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.