Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Buffalo faces less hazard damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Buffalo gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Buffalo’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Buffalo 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
Tornadoes
Hurricanes
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 Buffalo’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Buffalo, and Buffalo’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 10% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Buffalo’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Buffalo: $427K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Buffalo flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Buffalo. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Buffalo isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Leon County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Buffalo
Disasters that paid out in Buffalo itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Buffalo), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding95 households applied for aid$250K aid approved$84K to the City of Buffalo for repairs
- 2023Severe Winter Storm$41K to the City of Buffalo for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storms75 households applied for aid$82K aid approved$21K to the City of Buffalo for repairs
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding$80K to the City of Buffalo for repairs
Leon County has had 24 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Buffalo after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Buffalo archive →Get ready for what Buffalo 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Buffalo
Is Buffalo at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Buffalo has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and tornadoes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Buffalo 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 Leon County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Buffalo?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Buffalo’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 Buffalo?
By FEMA money that reached Buffalo, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2024): 95 households applied for aid, $250K approved, and $84K to the City of Buffalo for repairs.
Is Buffalo at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Buffalo’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Buffalo.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Buffalo’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.