Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Marilla faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marilla gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #472 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1998.
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 Marilla 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 Marilla’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marilla, and Marilla’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
B #472 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Marilla’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Marilla has more expected damage per building than 62% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Marilla: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marilla flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Marilla, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Marilla 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Marilla
Disasters that paid out in Marilla itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Marilla), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$10K to the Town of Marilla for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$32K to the Town of Marilla for repairs
- 2001Snow$8K to the Town of Marilla for repairs
- 2000Snow$3K to the Town of Marilla for repairs
- 1999Snow$5K to the Town of Marilla 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 Marilla after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marilla archive →Marilla and its neighbors
Marilla is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alden | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Elma | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Aurora | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Bennington | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Marilla | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wales | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Town Line | — | 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 Marilla 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 Marilla
Is Marilla at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marilla has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #472 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Marilla flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Marilla since 1998, $15K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Marilla 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 Marilla?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marilla’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 Marilla?
By FEMA money that reached Marilla, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 11 households applied for aid, $1K approved, and $32K to the Town of Marilla for repairs.
Is Marilla at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Marilla’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marilla.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marilla’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.