FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Elma than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elma gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #271 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 14 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 Elma 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 Elma’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elma, and Elma’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #271 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elma’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, Elma has less expected damage per building than 64% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Elma: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elma flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elma, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Elma isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Erie County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elma
Disasters that paid out in Elma itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Elma), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of Elma for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$238K to the Town of Elma for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding207 households applied for aid$93K aid approved$214K to the Town of Elma for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of Elma for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2001Snow$16K to the Town of Elma for repairs
- 2000Snow$5K to the Town of Elma for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Snow$5K to the Town of Elma for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Erie 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 Elma after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elma archive →Elma and its neighbors
Elma 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Elma | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Aurora | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Marilla | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| West Seneca | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 120 |
| Billington Heights | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Elma 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 Elma
Is Elma at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elma has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #271 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elma flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Elma since 1979, $49K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Elma 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 Erie County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Elma?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elma’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 Elma?
By FEMA money that reached Elma, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 207 households applied for aid, $93K approved, and $214K to the Town of Elma for repairs.
Is Elma at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Elma’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elma.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elma’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.