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Natural hazard risk in Niagara County, New York

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 83.3 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$52.4 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1973
22[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$826,000[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
4[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Niagara County an overall natural hazard rating of Relatively Moderate, with a score of 83.3 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores in the county are inland flooding, ice storm and lightning[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA rates overall risk in Niagara County Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[5]. FEMA lists $52.4 million a year in Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards[1]. FEMA's sorted loss values show the largest are inland flooding ($44.6 million a year), cold wave ($2.2 million a year) and tornado ($1.4 million a year)[7]. Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, and it does not predict next year's damage[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Relatively Low, which describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates community resilience Very High, which describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$44.6 million[11]
Ice StormRelatively High$760,000[12]
LightningRelatively Moderate$664,000[13]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.1 million[14]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$2.2 million[15]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$658,000[16]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$568,000[17]
HurricaneVery Low$157,000[18]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$83,000[19]
TornadoRelatively Low$1.4 million[20]
HailRelatively Low$202,000[21]
WildfireVery Low$19,000[22]
Coastal FloodingVery Low$5,774[23]
DroughtVery Low$2,344[24]
LandslideVery Low$36[25]
AvalancheVery Low$3[26]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: volcanic activity[27].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low35.2[9]
Community resilienceVery High91.7[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding in Niagara County Relatively Moderate, with a score of 90.9 out of 100[11]. OpenFEMA lists 453 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03, out of 81,196 residential structures[28]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 20.4% of homes are insured[28]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims show 184 claims filed for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $826,000 in total[3]. For a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[29].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[11] Relatively Moderate, $44.6 million expected loss a year
Coastal Flooding, FEMA risk rating[23] Very Low, $5,774 expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[28] 453 of 81,196 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[28] 1,834, of which 374 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 184 filed, $826,000 paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[29]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 22 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Niagara County since 1973[2]. The most recent is DR-4694-NY, a severe winter storm and snowstorm declared 2023-03-15[30]. NOAA's tornado database records 4 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and the most recent was on 1994-08-28[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Niagara County, since 1973
Incident type Declarations
Snowstorm[2] 9
Severe Storm[2] 5
Flood[2] 4
Hurricane[2] 2
Winter Storm[2] 1
Fire[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4694-NY[30] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2023-03-15
EM-3589-NY[30] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2022-11-20
DR-4348-NY[30] Flooding 2017-11-14
DR-4129-NY[30] Severe Storms And Flooding 2013-07-12
EM-3351-NY[30] Hurricane Sandy 2012-10-28

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Questions people ask

Is Niagara County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with a score of 90.9[11]. FEMA lists $44.6 million a year in Expected Annual Loss from inland flooding[7].
Does Niagara County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 4 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[20].
How many federal disasters have been declared in Niagara County?
OpenFEMA lists 22 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1973[2].
Is Niagara County at risk of earthquakes or wildfire?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Low[16] and wildfire risk Very Low compared with other US counties[22].
How do I check the flood zone of an address in Niagara County?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[29].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Niagara County is $52.4 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Low, score 84.4). Of this, buildings account for $46.9 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $5.3... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 22 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Niagara County since 1973 (14 major disaster, 8 emergency or fire management). By incident type: snowstorm 9, severe storm 5, flood 4, hurricane 2, winter storm 1, fire 1. Biological (such as COVID-19)... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 184 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Niagara County, 114 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $826,000 in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid). Years... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 4 recorded tornadoes touched Niagara County. The strongest were rated F1 (most recent of them on 1969-07-26). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 1994-08-28. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Niagara County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 83.3 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Niagara County are inland flooding (90.9, Relatively Moderate), ice storm (87.4, Relatively High), lightning (76.9, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Niagara County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($44.6 million a year), cold wave ($2.2 million a year), tornado ($1.4 million a year), out of $52.4 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Niagara County is Relatively Low (score 35.2). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Niagara County is Very High (score 91.7). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 90.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $44.6 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 1.32 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of... FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 87.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $760,000 a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 2.96 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 76.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $664,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 27.6 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 73.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.97 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38... FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 69.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 3.11 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 65.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $658,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0008 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 58.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $568,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.9 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 57.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $157,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.03 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 56.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $83,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 18.9 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 52.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.07 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 42.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $202,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.51 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 33.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $19,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), coastal flooding in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 31.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5,774 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0131 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 17.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2,344 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.18 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 11.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $36 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Niagara County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 6.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  27. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Niagara County: volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  28. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 453 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Niagara County, out of 81,196 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.6%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 1,834 residential structures and 374 contracts, a... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  29. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  30. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.