Chautauqua County
New York — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 85th
Chautauqua County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 84.6, 85th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $44M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.68 / yr | $36M |
| Lightning | High | 35.45 / yr | $952K |
| Strong Wind | High | 1.60 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.28 / yr | $3M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 37.11 / yr | $129K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.03 / yr | $432K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 3.69 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.06 / yr | $149K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.44 / yr | $2K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $152K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $26K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.89 / yr | $109K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.23 / yr | $93K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $14 |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Chautauqua County?
Chautauqua County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 84.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 85th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Chautauqua County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (Medium, $36M EAL), Lightning (High, $952K EAL), Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Chautauqua County compare to other New York counties?
Chautauqua County ranks #19 of 62 New York counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Chautauqua County's $44M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.