Photo: Walker, L. E., 1826-1916 -- Publisher · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Chautauqua as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chautauqua gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #566 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 42 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 Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chautauqua, and Chautauqua’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #566 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chautauqua’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, Chautauqua has more expected damage per building than 75% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Chautauqua: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chautauqua flood? Sometimes: 42 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chautauqua, from FEMA’s records: 10.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua
Disasters that paid out in Chautauqua itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Chautauqua), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$13K to the Town of Chautauqua for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$26K to the Town of Chautauqua for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$18K to the Town of Chautauqua for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$5K to the Town of Chautauqua for repairs
- 2001Snow$16K to the Town of Chautauqua for repairs
- 2000Snow$6K to the Town of Chautauqua for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Snow$6K to the Town of Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chautauqua archive →Chautauqua and its neighbors
Chautauqua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sherman | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Mayville | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Chautauqua | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Ellery | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| North Harmony | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Stockton | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
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 Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua
Is Chautauqua at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chautauqua has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #566 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chautauqua flood?
Flood insurance has paid 42 claims in Chautauqua since 1979, $311K in all, or 10.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Chautauqua 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 Chautauqua?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chautauqua’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 Chautauqua?
By FEMA money that reached Chautauqua, Severe Storms and Flooding (2014): $26K to the Town of Chautauqua for repairs.
Is Chautauqua at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Chautauqua’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chautauqua.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chautauqua’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.