Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Yorkshire 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, Yorkshire gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #565 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1992.
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 Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Yorkshire, and Yorkshire’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #565 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Yorkshire’s residents live in 3 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, Yorkshire has more expected damage per building than 75% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Yorkshire: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Yorkshire flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1992
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Yorkshire, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Yorkshire isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cattaraugus County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Yorkshire
Disasters that paid out in Yorkshire itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Yorkshire), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$949 aid approved$1.3M to the Town of Yorkshire for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Yorkshire for repairs
- 2001Snow$13K to the Town of Yorkshire for repairs
- 2000Snow$6K to the Town of Yorkshire for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$49K to the Town of Yorkshire for repairs
- 1999Snow$4K to the Town of Yorkshire for repairs
Cattaraugus 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 Yorkshire after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Yorkshire archive →Yorkshire and its neighbors
Yorkshire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sardinia | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Yorkshire | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Machias | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ashford | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Freedom | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lime Lake | — | 656 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire
Is Yorkshire at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yorkshire has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #565 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Yorkshire flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Yorkshire since 1992, $13K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Yorkshire 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 Cattaraugus County, 1.0% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Yorkshire?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Yorkshire’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 Yorkshire?
By FEMA money that reached Yorkshire, Severe Storms and Flooding (2009): 1 households applied for aid, $949 approved, and $1.3M to the Town of Yorkshire for repairs.
Is Yorkshire at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Yorkshire’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Yorkshire.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Yorkshire’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.