FEMA Records
24
Above median
New York · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Chautauqua County, NY
24 FEMA disaster declarations (1972-2023), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate. Most common hazard: Snowstorm.
- 24
- FEMA declarations
- 13
- Major disasters
- 85
- NRI risk · Relatively Moderate
- Snowstorm
- Top hazard
The verdict
Chautauqua County has a nationally busy FEMA history: 24 declarations, more than 66% of counties in this registry. But the state comparison tempers that reading: the total is 2% below the New York county mean. FEMA's separate National Risk Index places the county in the riskiest 15%; that score models loss and vulnerability rather than counting declarations.
- Riskiest 15%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Moderate
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 24
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 1,803
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records; an EM authorizes a narrower set of federal assistance than a DR.
How does Chautauqua County compare?
Chautauqua County vs. all counties in this dataset
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
24 Top 34% higher than 66% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-03
Chautauqua County's FEMA Risk Index score
FEMA National Risk Index composite score vs. the New York county average
What does Chautauqua County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
FEMA's NFIP table contains a substantial paid-claim history for this county: 1,803 claims and $10.0M in payments. PlainHazard labels 500 or more claims a heavy registry record; that is a reporting bucket, not an official FEMA risk grade. The average paid claim was $5.6K. NFIP totals exclude uninsured flood losses and do not measure how many properties currently carry a policy.
Start with the state benchmark: a New York county averages 24.5 federal declaration records, while Chautauqua County has 24. The gap is 2% below that mean. Fewer entries indicate a quieter history of recorded federal actions, not immunity from a hazard and not a prediction about what happens next.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 84.6/100 (Relatively Moderate). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Low (roughly $43.6M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively High and community resilience Very High, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Among the 18 modeled hazards, Riverine Flooding carries the county's highest rating, a mid-range Relatively Moderate. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 2.7 times per year here, based on 75 historical events on record.
Declaration frequency
Nationally, Chautauqua County's 24 FEMA records form a high-volume history; within New York, however, the count is 2% below the county mean. 13 entries carry the Major Disaster classification. The largest incident group is Snowstorm, appearing 7 times. The full 51-year record averages 0.5 declarations annually. A DR label alone does not say whether Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, or both followed.
63 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Chautauqua County, NY · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) High
17/30
24 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.2x national county average)
County Disaster Density Moderate
12/25
24 declarations (1.0x state county average of 25)
Major Disaster Share High
14/25
13 of 24 declarations are major disasters (54%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
9 different disaster types declared in Chautauqua County
Historical Declaration Activity
Activity Band
High
vs. New York Avg
-2%
State avg: 24.5
vs. National Avg
+16%
National avg: 20.7
Avg Per Year
0.5
Over 51 years
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Chautauqua County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
54%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
85
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Chautauqua County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | an average of 2.7 times per year |
| Lightning | Relatively High | an average of 35 times per year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | an average of 1.6 times per year |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 4 years |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | an average of 37 times per year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | roughly once every 33 years |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | an average of 3.7 times per year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | an average of 1.1 times per year |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 2 years |
| Earthquake | Very Low | roughly once every 2,132 years |
| Wildfire | Very Low | roughly once every 13,017 years |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.9 modeled event-days per year |
| Hail | Very Low | an average of 1.2 times per year |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | roughly once every 100 years |
| Avalanche | Very Low | roughly once every 100 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Snowstorm 7
Severe Storm 6
Biological 2
Flood 2
Hurricane 2
Other 2
Winter Storm 1
Fire 1
Severe Ice Storm 1
What Snowstorm declarations mean here
Snowstorm is the most frequent declaration type on Chautauqua County's record, 29% of its declarations. Snow-related declarations work on a narrower basis than most other hazards: they are generally issued to reimburse the cost of snow removal and emergency protective measures, rather than to repair destroyed property.
The qualifying test is unusual too. FEMA assesses snowfall against record levels for the affected area, so the same storm total can qualify in a county where it is historically extreme and not qualify a few hundred miles north where it is an ordinary winter. A low snowstorm declaration count is therefore not evidence of mild winters.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 13 54.2%
of all 24 declarations
Emergency - 11 45.8%
of all 24 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 3 | |
| 2015 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 3 | |
| 1999 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 2 | |
| 1976 | 1 | |
Show 1 earlier declaration years
| 1972 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 24 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 24 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3589 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM | EM | Winter Storm | 2022-11-20 |
| 4480 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-20 |
| 3434 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 4472 | SEVERE STORMS, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2019-12-19 |
| 4204 | SEVERE WINTER STORM, SNOWSTORM, AND FLOODING | DR | Snowstorm | 2014-12-22 |
| 4180 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2014-07-08 |
| 4129 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2013-07-12 |
| 3351 | HURRICANE SANDY | EM | Hurricane | 2012-10-28 |
| 1857 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2009-09-01 |
| 3262 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-30 |
| 1589 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2005-04-19 |
| 1564 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2004-10-01 |
| 1534 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2004-08-03 |
| 3186 | POWER OUTAGE | EM | Other | 2003-08-23 |
| 3170 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2001-12-31 |
| 1391 | FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS | DR | Fire | 2001-09-11 |
| 3157 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2000-12-04 |
| 3155 | WEST NILE VIRUS | EM | Other | 2000-10-11 |
| 3136 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 1999-01-15 |
| 3107 | SEVERE BLIZZARD | EM | Snowstorm | 1993-03-17 |
Show 4 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 527 | SNOWSTORMS | DR | Snowstorm | 1977-02-05 |
| 3027 | SNOWSTORMS | EM | Snowstorm | 1977-01-29 |
| 494 | ICE STORM,SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Severe Ice Storm | 1976-03-19 |
| 338 | TROPICAL STORM AGNES | DR | Flood | 1972-06-23 |
Storm Events in New York
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Chautauqua County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 8,295 | 6 | 45 | $45.0M |
| Winter Weather | 2,261 | 7 | 17 | $705.5K |
| Flash Flood | 1,775 | 23 | 3 | $674.3M |
| Strong Wind | 1,399 | 2 | 12 | $9.2M |
| Winter Storm | 1,228 | 13 | 2 | $4.9M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
1,803
Total Paid
$10.0M
Avg Per Claim
$5.6K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Score: 84.6/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Low
$43.6M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively High
Community Resilience
Very High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Riverine Flooding Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Strong Wind Relatively High
Tornado Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Hail Very Low
Coastal Flooding Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Drought No Rating
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Riverine Flooding
Riverine Flooding is the model's measure of a watershed draining more water than its channel can carry. Unlike flash flooding it usually builds over days and is forecast in advance, which makes it the hazard where warning time most reliably converts into reduced harm.
Worth noting for Chautauqua County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Riverine Flooding carries the highest modeled rating (Relatively Moderate), while the county's declaration history is led by Snowstorm. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Chautauqua County's closest FEMA peer: Chilton County, AL
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Chautauqua County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Chautauqua County shows 24 FEMA declarations, led by Snowstorm.
Similar Major-disaster share
Chautauqua County: 13 of 24 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Chautauqua County: NRI composite 84.6 (Relatively Moderate).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Chautauqua County - capture-dated entries only.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Chautauqua County's NFIP claims file (1,803 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Chautauqua County?
The most common disaster type in Chautauqua County is Snowstorm, with 7 declarations. Other disaster types include Severe Storm (6), Biological (2), Flood (2).
How does Chautauqua County's FEMA declaration record compare with the New York average?
The typical New York county has 24.5 FEMA declaration records; Chautauqua County has 24, or 2% fewer. Against the national county mean of 20.7, this county's total is 16% higher. The comparison is historical and says nothing about the probability of a future event.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Chautauqua County received?
Chautauqua County has received 13 major disaster declarations, representing 54% of all 24 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Chautauqua County filed?
Chautauqua County has 1,803 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $10.0M in payments, with an average of $5.6K per claim.
What was the worst year for disasters in Chautauqua County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Chautauqua County was 2001, with 3 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1972 to 2023.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Chautauqua County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Chautauqua County, New York has an overall risk score of 84.6 out of 100 (Relatively Moderate). On social vulnerability the county rates Relatively High; on community resilience, Very High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Low, representing $43.6M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Chautauqua County?
The top hazard flagged by FEMA's NRI for Chautauqua County is Riverine Flooding (risk rating: Relatively Moderate). Other significant hazards include Lightning (Relatively High) and Strong Wind (Relatively High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts riverine flooding here at an average of 2.7 times per year, drawn from 75 historical events on record. These scores are based on FEMA's analysis of historical event frequency, exposed assets, and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
What this means for Chautauqua County
Against a New York county mean of 25 declarations, Chautauqua County, NY records 24, or 2% fewer. PlainHazard classifies that historical total as high activity.
- Major Disaster is the largest group (13 of 24) in a declaration history that remains below its state benchmark; frequency here is not a forecast. New York overview
- Nationally the county exceeds 66% of recorded county totals, but its own New York benchmark is higher. The ranking keeps those two contexts separate. Most-disaster rankings
- The large NFIP claims file and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records; the guide explains where they overlap and where they do not. Disaster-data guide
A below-average federal record is not a safety guarantee. Use National Weather Service alerts and local emergency-management notices for present conditions, not this historical comparison.
PlainHazard derives this profile from FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries and National Risk Index data. The declaration comparison covers 3,266 U.S. counties and county equivalents in this database, refreshed as of 2026-08-03. Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 - all federally-declared disasters for this county. fema.gov/openfema/disaster-declarations
- FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) - per-county per-hazard risk ratings and expected annual loss. hazards.fema.gov/nri
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database - state-level storm/severe-weather event records, 2015-2025. ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainHazard Editorial
Verify with FEMA → · Verify with FEMA NRI → · Verify with NOAA →
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or national statistics report, the data & editorial changelog, or report a data error.