Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Hamburg than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hamburg gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #377 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 173 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 Hamburg’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hamburg 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 Hamburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hamburg, and Hamburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #377 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hamburg’s residents live in 13 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, Hamburg has less expected damage per building than 50% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.3M a year in losses across Hamburg: $12.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hamburg flood? Yes: 173 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hamburg, from FEMA’s records: 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late summer storms1 claim · $37K
Hamburg 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hamburg
Disasters that paid out in Hamburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hamburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$1.7M to the Town of Hamburg for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$110K to the Town of Hamburg for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$1.1M to the Town of Hamburg for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$785K to the Town of Hamburg for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding$300K to the Town of Hamburg for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$796K to the Town of Hamburg for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Show all 11
- 2001Severe Winter Storm$22K to the Town of Hamburg for repairs
- 2001Snow$71K to the Town of Hamburg for repairs
- 2000Snow$23K to the Town of Hamburg for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$32K to the Town of Hamburg for repairs
- 1999Snow$71K to the Town of Hamburg for repairs
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 Hamburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hamburg archive →Hamburg and its neighbors
Hamburg 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eden | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Evans | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Orchard Park | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Hamburg | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 173 |
| Blasdell | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Boston | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Lackawanna | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Wanakah | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Highland-on-the-Lake | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| North Boston | — | 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 Hamburg 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 Hamburg
Is Hamburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hamburg has lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #377 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hamburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 173 claims in Hamburg since 1978, $2.9M in all, or 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 34 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late summer storms (1).
Is Hamburg 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 Hamburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hamburg’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 Hamburg?
By FEMA money that reached Hamburg, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2022): $1.7M to the Town of Hamburg for repairs. By flood claims, Late summer storms: 1 paid, $37K.
Is Hamburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Hamburg’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hamburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hamburg’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.