Enter any address in Genesee County, New York to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Genesee County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 19 flood events and 19 flash flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on July 15, 2024, and July 29, 2023, both attributed to severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced a significant number of claims, with an average payout of $13,059 and an average water depth of 4.2 feet. While Zone X_UNSHADED has fewer claims, the average payout is higher at $21,373, though with a lower average water depth of 1.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in areas with higher average water depths, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
32 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Genesee County, New York has recorded 38 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 19 flash floods and 19 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Dec 23, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Dec 23, 2022 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Winter Storm | Nov 18, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Snowstorm | Nov 17, 2014 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Lake Effect Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Oct 12, 2006 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 12, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 15, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 23, 2017 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Apr 20, 2017 | 30.00K |
| Flood | Jul 13, 2017 | 15.00K |
| Flood | Nov 6, 2017 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Nov 24, 2014 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 12, 2014 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Dec 22, 2013 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2012 | 25.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 15, 2024
A strong upper-level trough and mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) crossed western and central New York during the afternoon on July 15, 2024. Timing with the MCV corresponded with favorable daytime heating and partly to mostly sunny skies ahead of the system. This resulted in more than 2,000 J/kg of CAPE across much of the region south & southeast of Lake Ontario. Combined with the dynamic natu...
Flash Flood — Jul 29, 2023
A mid-level impulse and stalled out frontal boundary resulted in slow moving thunderstorms across the western Niagara Frontier that produced heavy rain and flash flooding. There were also waterspouts on Lake Erie in the afternoon as the impulse crossed the area.
Flash Flood — Jul 23, 2017
Thunderstorms developed along the lake breezes during the afternoon hours. In Allegany County, the thunderstorms that formed along the Lake Erie breeze downed trees and wires in Belmont, Scio and Andover. In Ontario County, the storms that developed on the Lake Ontario breeze downed trees and wired in Canandaigua and Crystal Beach. The thunderstorm also produced heavy downpours that resulted ...
Flood — Apr 20, 2017
Several rounds of thunderstorms brought one to three inches of rain to the area in just a couple of hours. This resulted in ponding of water on area roadways. Several roads were closed by flood waters. Several basements were reported flooded in Alden. In addition, several of the faster-rising area creeks reached flood stage. At Lancaster, Cayuga Creek crested at 8.44 feet at 01:15 AM EST on t...
Flood — Jul 13, 2017
A convective complex moved across Western New York late in the morning. This produced a quick 2 to 4 inches of rain which covered a significant portion of the region and resulted in flash flooding that impacted the Buffalo metro area, the Boston/Wyoming hills and parts of the northern Finger Lakes Region. The flash flooding resulted in numerous road closures, including: Back Creek Road in Bos...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Genesee County, New York:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Genesee County, New York that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.