Town of Niagara District School No. 2 · Photo: Pubdog · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Niagara than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Niagara gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #336 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 17 claims 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 Niagara 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 Niagara’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Niagara, and Niagara’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #336 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Niagara’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, Niagara has less expected damage per building than 56% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Niagara: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Niagara flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Niagara, from FEMA’s records: 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $13K
Niagara isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Niagara County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Niagara
Disasters that paid out in Niagara itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Niagara), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$10K to the Town of Niagara for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the Town of Niagara for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Niagara for repairs
- 2001Snow$5K to the Town of Niagara for repairs
- 1999Snow$3K to the Town of Niagara for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Niagara 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 Niagara after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Niagara archive →Niagara and its neighbors
Niagara is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Niagara | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Niagara Falls | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Wheatfield | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
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 Niagara 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 Niagara
Is Niagara at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Niagara has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #336 of 758 in New York. 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.
Does Niagara flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Niagara since 1998, $126K in all, or 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (1).
Is Niagara 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 Niagara County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Niagara?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Niagara’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 Niagara?
By FEMA money that reached Niagara, Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2011): $10K to the Town of Niagara for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 1 paid, $13K.
Is Niagara at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Niagara’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Niagara.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Niagara’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.