Natural Disasters in Buffalo, NY

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

97.7

Relatively High

Expected Annual Loss

97.4

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

47.7

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

95.3

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Cold Wave99.6Winter Weather99.5Tornado95.4

Hazard	Risk Score
Cold Wave	99.6
Winter Weather	99.5
Tornado	95.4
Heat Wave	95.4
Ice Storm	93.7
Lightning	86.3
Earthquake	85.8
Strong Wind	80.4
Hurricane	71.3
Wildfire	62.6
Landslide	52.0
Coastal Flood	44.4
Hail	41.5
Drought	35.8
Avalanche	24.0

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Snowstorm

Mar 2023

Most Common Type

Snowstorm

11 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Mar 15, 2023	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Dec 26, 2022	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Nov 20, 2022	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Mar 20, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Dec 19, 2019	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Dec 22, 2014	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM, SNOWSTORM, AND FLOODING
Oct 28, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Sep 1, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Oct 24, 2006	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Oct 15, 2006	Snowstorm	LAKE EFFECT SNOWSTORM
Sep 30, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Aug 3, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Aug 23, 2003	Other	POWER OUTAGE
Mar 1, 2002	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Dec 31, 2001	Snowstorm	SNOW
Sep 11, 2001	Fire	FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS
Dec 4, 2000	Snowstorm	SNOW
Oct 11, 2000	Other	WEST NILE VIRUS
Jul 21, 2000	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING

Showing 20 of 27 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

2,477

Total Claims Paid

$12,577,007

Avg Claim Payout

$5,078

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$502,882,315

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

1,590

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4480	Biological	278	$348,116,488
DR-1665	Severe Storm(s)	471	$100,467,710
DR-4204	Snow	199	$20,354,914
DR-4694	Winter Storm	212	$17,820,067
DR-1857	Severe Storm(s)	314	$9,465,395
DR-4472	Severe Storm(s)	22	$4,306,425
DR-1335	Severe Storm(s)	75	$1,633,187
DR-1391	Fire	2	$429,112
DR-3589	Winter Storm	15	$243,285
DR-4020	Hurricane	1	$43,125
DR-1589	Severe Storm(s)	1	$2,606

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$4,610,320

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.28

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
301.1: Shoreline Stabilization (Riprap, etc.)	5	$1,183,850
402.1: Infrastructure Protective Measures (Roads and Bridges)	4	$322,166
405.1: Other Minor Flood Control	3	$0
403.2: Stormwater Management - Diversions	3	$184,736
302.1: Landslide Stabilization - Structural	3	$1,945,013

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Buffalo has a relatively high overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are cold wave, winter weather, tornado. The area has had 27 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is snowstorm (11 declarations). 2,477 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $502,882,315 in public assistance recovery funding. 32 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.