Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Buffalo’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Buffalo gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #626 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 211 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 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
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 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Buffalo, and Buffalo’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C #626 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Buffalo’s residents live in 91 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, Buffalo has more expected damage per building than 83% of New York towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Buffalo has higher expected damage per building than 59% (#238 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $90.2M, is the 133th largest of those 400.
Does Buffalo flood? Yes: 211 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Buffalo, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
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: Erie County.5 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.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$5.4M to the City of Buffalo for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$6K to the City of Buffalo for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$625K to the City of Buffalo for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$10K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding7,095 households applied for aid$2.8M aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
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 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 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| West Seneca | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 120 |
| Lackawanna | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Sloan | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Eggertsville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Tonawanda Town | — | 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 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.
- 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 higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #626 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 Buffalo flood?
Flood insurance has paid 211 claims in Buffalo since 1978, $864K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once.
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 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 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 Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2022): $5.4M to the City of Buffalo for repairs.
Is Buffalo at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Buffalo’s rate for it is higher than 85% 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.