FEMA Records
25
High volume
New York · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Genesee County, NY
25 FEMA disaster declarations (1973-2023), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low. Most common hazard: Snowstorm.
- 25
- FEMA declarations
- 13
- Major disasters
- 56
- NRI risk · Relatively Low
- Snowstorm
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Genesee County. Its 25 FEMA declarations are 2% above the New York county mean and exceed the count for 71% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 44%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 44%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Low
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 25
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 137
- 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.
FEMA OpenFEMA declaration desk
County FIPS 36037 · Genesee County 25 declarations · rank 941/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-MID · RANK-LOWER · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-LOW · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-ABOVE
- DECL-HEAVY 25
- MAJOR-MID 52%
- RANK-LOWER #941
- PHOTO-FINISH Jefferson
- NRI-LOW 56
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Snowstorm
- VS-ST-ABOVE +2%
Nearest declaration peer: Jefferson, AR (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · New York state profile
Genesee County among high-volume declaration counties
FEMA declaration records among Genesee County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Benton · near 25
Benton · near
25 declarations
- Genesee · this county 25
Genesee · this county
25 declarations
- Jefferson · near 25
Jefferson · near
25 declarations
- Lafayette · near 25
Lafayette · near
25 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Genesee County carries 25 FEMA declaration records, ranked 941 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Where Genesee County ranks in the national declaration registry
Genesee County vs. high-volume counties in this registry
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Genesee County
25 Top 29% higher than 71% 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 · 2026-08-25
Genesee County's FEMA Risk Index score
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Genesee County is led by Riverine Flooding (about $14.1M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively Low), while Lightning carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High). EAL and risk score use different inputs; they need not agree.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025 release) - Expected Annual Loss vs composite risk rating by hazard.
What does Genesee County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
The NFIP claims register shows a middle-volume loss record here: 137 paid claims, totaling $1.8M. PlainHazard uses 50-499 claims for this descriptive band; FEMA does not publish it as a safety or coverage category. The $13.4K average describes payments on recorded claims only, leaving uninsured damage and properties without a claim outside the measure.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Genesee County's 25 federal records stand 2% above the New York county mean of 24.5. That comparison describes how often federal action was recorded, including any Major Disaster, Emergency, and Fire Management entries shown on this page; it does not convert the count into future probability.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county carries a high composite score on FEMA's National Risk Index, 56.1/100, rated Relatively Low. Its Expected Annual Loss rating is Relatively Low (roughly $19.1M in annualized losses), and a Relatively Low social-vulnerability profile combined with Very High community resilience shapes how much of that raw exposure becomes realized harm. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Lightning stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 29 times per year here, based on 55,933 historical events on record.
64 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Genesee 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
18/30
25 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.2x national county average)
County Disaster Density High
13/25
25 declarations (1.0x state county average of 25)
Major Disaster Share High
13/25
13 of 25 declarations are major disasters (52%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
9 different disaster types declared in Genesee County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Genesee 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
52%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
56
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Genesee 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | an average of 29 times per year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | an average of 1.9 times per year |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 1.9 modeled event-days per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | roughly once every 1 years |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | an average of 1.4 times per year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | roughly once every 1 years |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | roughly once every 37 years |
| Earthquake | Very Low | roughly once every 1,206 years |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | an average of 3 times per year |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 2.8 modeled event-days per year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | roughly once every 20 years |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | an average of 22 times per year |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 11 years |
| Wildfire | Very Low | roughly once every 83,110 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Snowstorm 10
Severe Storm 3
Winter Storm 2
Biological 2
Hurricane 2
Other 2
Severe Ice Storm 2
Fire 1
Flood 1
What Snowstorm declarations mean here
Snowstorm is the most frequent declaration type on Genesee County's record, 40% 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 52.0%
of all 25 declarations
Emergency - 12 48.0%
of all 25 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 2 | |
| 1999 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 2 | |
| 1993 | 1 | |
| 1991 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 2 | |
Show 2 earlier declaration years
| 1976 | 1 | |
| 1973 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 25 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 25 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4694 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM | DR | Snowstorm | 2023-03-15 |
| 3590 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | EM | Winter Storm | 2022-12-26 |
| 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 |
| 4204 | SEVERE WINTER STORM, SNOWSTORM, AND FLOODING | DR | Snowstorm | 2014-12-22 |
| 3351 | HURRICANE SANDY | EM | Hurricane | 2012-10-28 |
| 1665 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2006-10-24 |
| 3268 | LAKE EFFECT SNOWSTORM | EM | Snowstorm | 2006-10-15 |
| 3262 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-30 |
| 1534 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2004-08-03 |
| 3186 | POWER OUTAGE | EM | Other | 2003-08-23 |
| 1467 | ICE STORM | DR | Severe Ice Storm | 2003-05-12 |
| 3170 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2001-12-31 |
| 1391 | FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS | DR | Fire | 2001-09-11 |
| 3155 | WEST NILE VIRUS | EM | Other | 2000-10-11 |
| 3136 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 1999-01-15 |
| 1233 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 1998-07-07 |
| 1196 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Snowstorm | 1998-01-06 |
| 3107 | SEVERE BLIZZARD | EM | Snowstorm | 1993-03-17 |
Show 5 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 898 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | DR | Snowstorm | 1991-03-21 |
| 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 |
| 367 | HIGH WINDS, WAVE ACTION & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1973-03-21 |
Storm Events in New York
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Genesee 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
137
Total Paid
$1.8M
Avg Per Claim
$13.4K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Score: 56.1/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Low
$19.1M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Low
Community Resilience
Very High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Riverine Flooding Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Tornado Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
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: Lightning
Lightning is modeled as a high-frequency, low-per-event hazard: strike counts are large, but each strike affects a very small area. Its aggregate cost accumulates through structure fires, electrical and electronic damage, and it is one of the few hazards whose risk is essentially continuous through the season rather than episodic.
Worth noting for Genesee County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Lightning carries the highest modeled rating (Relatively High), 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
Genesee County's closest FEMA peer: Talladega County, AL
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Genesee County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Genesee County shows 25 FEMA declarations, led by Snowstorm.
Similar Major-disaster share
Genesee County: 13 of 25 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Genesee County: NRI composite 56.1 (Relatively Low).
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 Genesee County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Genesee County: nearest out-of-state National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar NRI composite
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA NRI score. This county: 56.1 (Relatively Low).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 25. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Genesee County's NFIP claims file (137 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).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Genesee County?
The most common disaster type in Genesee County is Snowstorm, with 10 declarations. Other disaster types include Severe Storm (3), Winter Storm (2), Biological (2).
How does Genesee County's FEMA declaration record compare with the New York average?
FEMA lists 25 declaration records for Genesee County. That is 2% above the New York county mean of 24.5. Its count is also 21% above the national county mean of 20.7. A larger declaration history records more federal actions; it is not a forecast of the county's next hazard.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Genesee County received?
Genesee County has received 13 major disaster declarations, representing 52% of all 25 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Genesee County filed?
Genesee County has 137 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $1.8M in payments, with an average of $13.4K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Genesee County?
No. In Genesee County, Lightning has the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High), while Riverine Flooding leads Expected Annual Loss at about $14.1M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Genesee County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Genesee County was 2023, with 3 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1973 to 2023.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Genesee County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Genesee County, New York has an overall risk score of 56.1 out of 100 (Relatively Low). On social vulnerability the county rates Relatively Low; on community resilience, Very High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Low, representing $19.1M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Genesee County?
FEMA's NRI data points to Genesee County as of the latest release is Lightning (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Ice Storm (Relatively Moderate) and Drought (Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts lightning here at an average of 29 times per year, drawn from 55,933 historical events on record. FEMA derives these ratings from historical event frequency, the assets exposed, and the community's vulnerability profile.
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.
FEMA OpenFEMA declarations + NRI for Genesee County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · New York profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events