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Downtown Canandaigua, NYPhoto: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Canandaigua · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Canandaigua faces less hazard damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Canandaigua gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #316 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 65 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 92%Earthquakes 3%Strong wind 2%

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

less than 77%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#316 of 758 in New York
Hazard risk
A−#316 of 758
in New York · lower than 77% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
92% of expected building damage
Flood claims
65
paid since 1979 · $943K
Flooded more than once
5
properties · 2 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
10% off
Community discount (class 8)

What stands out about Canandaigua’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 77% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.10% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Canandaigua residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8).Remembers 202324 flood claims were paid for 2023 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Canandaigua 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

92%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Strong wind Ice storms Tornadoes Hurricanes Hail Winter storms Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Canandaigua’s grade

River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Canandaigua, and Canandaigua’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Canandaigua sits
Canandaigua
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #316 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Canandaigua’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding92%Everything else8%

The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Canandaigua has less expected damage per building than 58% of New York towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Canandaigua: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Canandaigua covers 5 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Canandaigua flood? Sometimes: 65 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Canandaigua, from FEMA’s records: 12.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 3 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 1 claim1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 13 claims1994: 1 claim1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 3 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 2 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 3 claims2012: 3 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 3 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 1 claim2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 4 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 24 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 2 claims2026: 0 claims199320212023
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The Vermont/New York Flooding24 claims · $471K
  • Hurricane Sandy2 claims · $65K
  • The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $16K
65
paid claims since 1979
$943K
paid to owners
5
homes flooded more than once
$15K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
Community discount10% off flood insurance

Canandaigua is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Ontario County.
Disasters

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Canandaigua

Disasters that paid out in Canandaigua itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Canandaigua), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$1.4M to the City of Canandaigua for repairs24 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$166K to the City of Canandaigua for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$493K to the City of Canandaigua for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes5 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
  5. 2003Ice Storm58 households applied for aid$53K aid approved$76K to the City of Canandaigua for repairs
  6. 1999Snow$29K to the City of Canandaigua for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in CanandaiguaOntario County only

Ontario County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.

Were you here?

Old photos of Canandaigua after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Canandaigua archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Canandaigua faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Canandaigua residents get 10% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Canandaigua

Is Canandaigua at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Canandaigua has lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #316 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Canandaigua flood?

Flood insurance has paid 65 claims in Canandaigua since 1979, $943K in all, or 12.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Vermont/New York Flooding (24).

Is Canandaigua 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 Ontario County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Canandaigua?

Canandaigua 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 Canandaigua?

By FEMA money that reached Canandaigua, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): $1.4M to the City of Canandaigua for repairs. By flood claims, Vermont/New York Flooding: 24 paid, $471K.

Is Canandaigua at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Canandaigua’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Canandaigua.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Canandaigua’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.