FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Carroll than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carroll gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #637 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1981.
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 Carroll 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 Carroll’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Carroll, and Carroll’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
C #637 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Carroll’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Carroll has more expected damage per building than 84% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Carroll: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Carroll flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Carroll, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Carroll 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Carroll
Disasters that paid out in Carroll itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Carroll), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$26K to the Town of Carroll for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$40K to the Town of Carroll for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$23K to the Town of Carroll for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2001Snow$11K to the Town of Carroll for repairs
- 2000Snow$9K to the Town of Carroll for repairs
- 1999Snow$4K to the Town of Carroll 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 Carroll after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Carroll archive →Carroll and its neighbors
Carroll is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiantone | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Carroll | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Poland | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Frewsburg | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| South Valley | — | 273 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Carroll 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 Carroll
Is Carroll at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carroll has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #637 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Carroll flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Carroll since 1981, $6K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Carroll 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 Carroll?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Carroll’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 Carroll?
By FEMA money that reached Carroll, Severe Storms and Flooding (2009): $40K to the Town of Carroll for repairs.
Is Carroll at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Carroll’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Carroll.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Carroll’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.