FEMA Records
27
High volume
New York · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Niagara County, NY
27 FEMA disaster declarations (1973-2023), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate. Most common hazard: Snowstorm.
- 27
- FEMA declarations
- 15
- Major disasters
- 83
- NRI risk · Relatively Moderate
- Snowstorm
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Niagara County. Its 27 FEMA declarations are 10% above the New York county mean and exceed the count for 78% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 17%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 17%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Moderate
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 27
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 180
- 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 Niagara County compare?
Niagara County vs. all counties in this dataset
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
27 Top 22% higher than 78% 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
Niagara County's FEMA Risk Index score
FEMA National Risk Index composite score vs. the New York county average
What does Niagara County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
The NFIP claims register shows a middle-volume loss record here: 180 paid claims, totaling $764.4K. PlainHazard uses 50-499 claims for this descriptive band; FEMA does not publish it as a safety or coverage category. The $4.2K 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. Niagara County's 27 federal records stand 10% 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 sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 83.4/100 (Relatively Moderate). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Low (roughly $52.4M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively Low 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 1.3 times per year here, based on 37 historical events on record.
Declaration frequency
The FEMA register is busy by both local and national comparisons. It contains 27 entries for Niagara County, including 15 Major Disaster records, 10% above the New York county mean. Across the 50-year span, that works out to 0.5 declarations a year. Snowstorm leads the file with 9 entries. Declaration type records the federal action taken, not every assistance program approved.
68 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Niagara 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
20/30
27 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.3x national county average)
County Disaster Density High
14/25
27 declarations (1.1x state county average of 25)
Major Disaster Share High
14/25
15 of 27 declarations are major disasters (56%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
9 different disaster types declared in Niagara County
Historical Declaration Activity
Activity Band
High
vs. New York Avg
+10%
State avg: 24.5
vs. National Avg
+30%
National avg: 20.7
Avg Per Year
0.5
Over 50 years
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Niagara 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
56%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
83
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Niagara 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 1.3 times per year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | an average of 3 times per year |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | an average of 28 times per year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 1 years |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | an average of 3.1 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | roughly once every 1,235 years |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 2.9 modeled event-days per year |
| Hurricane | Very Low | roughly once every 35 years |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | an average of 19 times per year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | roughly once every 14 years |
| Hail | Relatively Low | roughly once every 2 years |
| Wildfire | Very Low | roughly once every 98,968 years |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | roughly once every 76 years |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.2 modeled event-days per year |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 15 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 9
Severe Storm 5
Flood 4
Biological 2
Hurricane 2
Other 2
Winter Storm 1
Fire 1
Toxic Substances 1
What Snowstorm declarations mean here
Snowstorm is the most frequent declaration type on Niagara County's record, 33% 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 - 15 55.6%
of all 27 declarations
Emergency - 12 44.4%
of all 27 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 2 | |
| 2011 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 2 | |
| 2000 | 1 | |
| 1999 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 1 | |
Show 4 earlier declaration years
| 1985 | 1 | |
| 1980 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 2 | |
| 1973 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 27 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 27 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 |
| 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 |
| 4348 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2017-11-14 |
| 4129 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2013-07-12 |
| 3351 | HURRICANE SANDY | EM | Hurricane | 2012-10-28 |
| 1993 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, TORNADOES, AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS | DR | Flood | 2011-06-10 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 3155 | WEST NILE VIRUS | EM | Other | 2000-10-11 |
| 1335 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2000-07-21 |
| 3136 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 1999-01-15 |
Show 7 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1196 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Snowstorm | 1998-01-06 |
| 3107 | SEVERE BLIZZARD | EM | Snowstorm | 1993-03-17 |
| 734 | SNOW MELT & ICE JAMS | DR | Snowstorm | 1985-03-22 |
| 3080 | CHEMICAL WASTE, LOVE CANAL | EM | Toxic Substances | 1980-05-21 |
| 527 | SNOWSTORMS | DR | Snowstorm | 1977-02-05 |
| 3027 | SNOWSTORMS | EM | Snowstorm | 1977-01-29 |
| 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 Niagara 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
180
Total Paid
$764.4K
Avg Per Claim
$4.2K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Score: 83.4/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Low
$52.4M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Low
Community Resilience
Very High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Riverine Flooding Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively High
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Hurricane Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Tornado Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Coastal Flooding Very Low
Drought Very Low
Landslide Very Low
Avalanche 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: 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 Niagara 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
Niagara County's closest FEMA peer: Escambia County, AL
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Niagara County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Niagara County shows 27 FEMA declarations, led by Snowstorm.
Similar Major-disaster share
Niagara County: 15 of 27 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Niagara County: NRI composite 83.4 (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 Niagara County - capture-dated entries only.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Niagara County's NFIP claims file (180 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 Niagara County?
The most common disaster type in Niagara County is Snowstorm, with 9 declarations. Other disaster types include Severe Storm (5), Flood (4), Biological (2).
How does Niagara County's FEMA declaration record compare with the New York average?
FEMA lists 27 declaration records for Niagara County. That is 10% above the New York county mean of 24.5. Its count is also 30% 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 Niagara County received?
Niagara County has received 15 major disaster declarations, representing 56% of all 27 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Niagara County filed?
Niagara County has 180 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $764.4K in payments, with an average of $4.2K per claim.
What was the worst year for disasters in Niagara County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Niagara County was 2005, with 3 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1973 to 2023.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Niagara County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Niagara County, New York has an overall risk score of 83.4 out of 100 (Relatively Moderate). The county's social vulnerability rating is Relatively Low and community resilience is Very High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Low, representing $52.4M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Niagara County?
Based on FEMA NRI data, the highest-risk natural hazard in Niagara County as of the latest release is Riverine Flooding (risk rating: Relatively Moderate). Other significant hazards include Ice Storm (Relatively High) and Lightning (Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts riverine flooding here at an average of 1.3 times per year, drawn from 37 historical events on record. The underlying methodology weighs historical event frequency against 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 Niagara County
Niagara County, NY has 27 federal declaration records, 10% more than the New York county mean of 25; its history sits in PlainHazard's high activity band.
- Within this above-state-average declaration file, major disaster leads with 15 of 27 records; the category describes past federal action, not the next likely hazard. New York overview
- The state benchmark and national rank point the same way: this count tops the New York mean and the totals for 78% of 3,266 U.S. counties. Most-disaster rankings
- Use the data guide to separate this mid-volume insurance-claims file from declaration counts and modeled NRI risk. Disaster-data guide
An above-average declaration count records past federal responses; it does not predict the next event. Current warnings come from the National Weather Service and local emergency officials.
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.