Busti Mill · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Busti 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, Busti gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #450 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Busti 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 Busti’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Busti, and Busti’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
B #450 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Busti’s residents live in 2 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, Busti has more expected damage per building than 59% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Busti: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Busti flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Busti, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Busti isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chautauqua County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Busti
Disasters that paid out in Busti itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Busti), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the Town of Busti for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$32K to the Town of Busti for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$4K to the Town of Busti for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$24K to the Town of Busti for repairs
- 2001Snow$15K to the Town of Busti for repairs
- 2000Snow$9K to the Town of Busti for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Snow$4K to the Town of Busti for repairs
Chautauqua County has had 18 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 Busti after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Busti archive →Busti and its neighbors
Busti has the lowest expected damage per building of the 8 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busti | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Lakewood | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Sugar Grove Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Harmony | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Kiantone | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| North Harmony | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Ellicott | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Jamestown | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Jamestown West | — | 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 Busti 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 Busti
Is Busti at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Busti has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #450 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Busti flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Busti since 1979, $58K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Busti 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 Chautauqua County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Busti?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Busti’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 Busti?
By FEMA money that reached Busti, Severe Storms and Flooding (2009): $32K to the Town of Busti for repairs.
Is Busti at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Busti’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Busti.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Busti’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.