Photo: Manda.L.Isch · Public domainFEMA puts Aurora’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Aurora gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #389 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Aurora 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 Aurora’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Aurora, and Aurora’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #389 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Aurora’s residents live in 4 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, Aurora has more expected damage per building than 51% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across Aurora: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Aurora flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Aurora, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late summer storms2 claims · $31K
Aurora 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Aurora
Disasters that paid out in Aurora itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Aurora), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Aurora for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$108K to the Town of Aurora for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$25K to the Town of Aurora for repairs
- 2001Snow$22K to the Town of Aurora for repairs
- 2000Snow$10K to the Town of Aurora for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$12K to the Town of Aurora for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Snow$12K to the Town of Aurora 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 Aurora after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Aurora archive →Aurora and its neighbors
Aurora is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elma | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Orchard Park | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Aurora | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Marilla | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wales | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Colden | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Billington Heights | — | 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 Aurora 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 Aurora
Is Aurora at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Aurora has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #389 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Aurora flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Aurora since 1979, $96K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late summer storms (2).
Is Aurora 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 Aurora?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Aurora’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 Aurora?
By FEMA money that reached Aurora, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2014): $108K to the Town of Aurora for repairs. By flood claims, Late summer storms: 2 paid, $31K.
Is Aurora at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Aurora’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Aurora.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Aurora’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.