Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Buffalo as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Buffalo gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 68 claims 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 stands out about Buffalo’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Buffalo 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
Hail
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 Buffalo’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Buffalo, and Buffalo’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 9%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B− lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Buffalo’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $533K a year in losses across Buffalo: $382K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Buffalo flood? Sometimes: 68 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Buffalo, from FEMA’s records: 123.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding15 claims · $175K
- The Severe flooding14 claims · $71K
- The March 2019 Midwest Flooding1 claim · $8K
Buffalo isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Scott County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Buffalo
Disasters that paid out in Buffalo itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Buffalo), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Flooding$79K to the City of Buffalo for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2019Severe Storms and Flooding20 households applied for aid$59K aid approved$312K to the City of Buffalo for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding29 households applied for aid$53K aid approved$186K to the City of Buffalo for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding$118K to the City of Buffalo for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
Scott County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Buffalo after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Buffalo archive →Buffalo and its neighbors
Buffalo is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 898 |
| Buffalo | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
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 Buffalo 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Buffalo
Is Buffalo at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Buffalo has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hail (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Buffalo flood?
Flood insurance has paid 68 claims in Buffalo since 1979, $671K in all, or 123.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (15).
Is Buffalo 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 Scott County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Buffalo?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Buffalo’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 Buffalo?
By FEMA money that reached Buffalo, Severe Storms and Flooding (2019): 20 households applied for aid, $59K approved, and $312K to the City of Buffalo for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 15 paid, $175K.
Is Buffalo at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Buffalo’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Buffalo.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Buffalo’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.