Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Evans than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Evans gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #257 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 72 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 Evans’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Evans 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 Evans’ grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Evans, and Evans’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #257 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Evans’ residents live in 5 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, Evans has less expected damage per building than 66% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Evans: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Evans flood? Sometimes: 72 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Evans, from FEMA’s records: 9.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late summer storms3 claims · $54K
Evans 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Evans
Disasters that paid out in Evans itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Evans), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$61K to the Town of Evans for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$1.6M to the Town of Evans for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$174K to the Town of Evans for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$78K to the Town of Evans for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$180K to the Town of Evans for repairs
- 2001Severe Winter Storm$3K to the Town of Evans for repairs
Show all 10
- 2001Snow$47K to the Town of Evans for repairs
- 2000Snow$29K to the Town of Evans for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$50K to the Town of Evans for repairs
- 1999Snow$24K to the Town of Evans for repairs3 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 Evans after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Evans archive →Evans and its neighbors
Evans is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brant | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Eden | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Evans | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Hamburg | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 173 |
| Lake Erie Beach | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Highland-on-the-Lake | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Angola on the Lake | — | 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 Evans 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 Evans
Is Evans at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Evans has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #257 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 Evans flood?
Flood insurance has paid 72 claims in Evans since 1978, $667K in all, or 9.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late summer storms (3).
Is Evans 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 Evans?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Evans’ 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 Evans?
By FEMA money that reached Evans, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $1.6M to the Town of Evans for repairs. By flood claims, Late summer storms: 3 paid, $54K.
Is Evans at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Evans’ rate for it is lower than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Evans.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Evans’ 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.