Photo: Doug Kerr from now in Binghamton, NY · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Dayton as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dayton gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Dayton 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 Dayton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dayton, and Dayton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
B− lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dayton’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $728K a year in losses across Dayton: $626K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dayton flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Dayton. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Dayton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cattaraugus County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dayton
Disasters that paid out in Dayton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Dayton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$148K to the Town of Dayton for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$22K aid approved$34K to the Town of Dayton for repairs
- 2001Snow$9K to the Town of Dayton for repairs
- 2000Snow$5K to the Town of Dayton for repairs
- 1999Snow$4K to the Town of Dayton for repairs
Cattaraugus County has had 20 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 Dayton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dayton archive →Dayton and its neighbors
Dayton is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Dayton | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Villenova | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Persia | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Perrysburg | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Dayton 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 Dayton
Is Dayton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dayton has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. 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.
Is Dayton 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 Cattaraugus County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Dayton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Dayton’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 Dayton?
By FEMA money that reached Dayton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2014): $148K to the Town of Dayton for repairs.
Is Dayton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Dayton’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dayton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dayton’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.