Photo: DanielPenfield · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Chili than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chili gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #93 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 23 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 Chili’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Chili 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 Chili’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chili, and Chili’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
A #93 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chili’s residents live in 6 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, Chili has less expected damage per building than 88% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.9M a year in losses across Chili: $3.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chili flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chili, 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.
Chili isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Monroe County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chili
Disasters that paid out in Chili itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Chili), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Ice Storm$40K to the Town of Chili for repairs
- 1999Snow$35K to the Town of Chili for repairs
Monroe County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Chili after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chili archive →Chili and its neighbors
Chili is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gates | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Chili | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Riga | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Henrietta | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Brighton | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Rochester | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Wheatland | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
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 Chili 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 Chili
Is Chili at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chili has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #93 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chili flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Chili since 1978, $112K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Chili 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 Monroe County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chili?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chili’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 Chili?
By FEMA money that reached Chili, Ice Storm (2003): $40K to the Town of Chili for repairs.
Is Chili at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Chili’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chili.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chili’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.