Photo: TonyTheTiger · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Amherst faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Amherst gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #454 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 263 claims here since 1978.
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 Amherst’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Amherst 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 Amherst’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Amherst, and Amherst’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
B #454 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Amherst’s residents live in 28 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Amherst has more expected damage per building than 60% of New York towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Amherst has lower expected damage per building than 72% (#113 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $39.9M, is the 295th largest of those 400.
Does Amherst flood? Yes: 263 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Amherst, from FEMA’s records: 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Amherst is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Erie County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Amherst
Disasters that paid out in Amherst itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Amherst), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$382K to the Town of Amherst for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$38K to the Town of Amherst for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$79K to the Town of Amherst for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$614 aid approved$15K to the Town of Amherst for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding1,200 households applied for aid$652K aid approved$15.1M to the Town of Amherst for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$38K to the Town of Amherst for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 11
- 2001Severe Winter Storm$8K to the Town of Amherst for repairs
- 2001Snow$246K to the Town of Amherst for repairs
- 2000Snow$126K to the Town of Amherst for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$123K to the Town of Amherst for repairs
- 1999Snow$138K to the Town of Amherst 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 Amherst after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Amherst archive →Amherst and its neighbors
Amherst is 3rd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarence | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Cheektowaga | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 127 |
| Amherst | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 263 |
| Tonawanda | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Buffalo | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 211 |
| Wheatfield | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Pendleton | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| North Tonawanda | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Eggertsville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Tonawanda Town | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Harris Hill | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Amherst 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.
- Amherst residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Amherst
Is Amherst at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Amherst has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #454 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Amherst flood?
Flood insurance has paid 263 claims in Amherst since 1978, $1.5M in all, or 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Amherst 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 Amherst?
Amherst is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Amherst?
By FEMA money that reached Amherst, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 1,200 households applied for aid, $652K approved, and $15.1M to the Town of Amherst for repairs.
Is Amherst at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Amherst’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Amherst.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Amherst’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.