Enter any address in Orleans County, New York to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent flood event in Orleans County, NY. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 14 recorded flash flood events, alongside coastal flood, flood, and lakeshore flood events. Recent examples include heavy rainfall and flash flooding on July 27, 2020, and flash flooding on July 29, 2023.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced 15 claims with an average payout of $4,008 and an average water depth of 0.8 feet. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED have seen 11 claims averaging $5,273 with an average water depth of -0.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in areas with a history of claims, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
22 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Orleans County, New York has recorded 28 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 24 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Flooding | Flood | May 2, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Mar 14, 2017 |
| 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 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 13, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 27, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Lakeshore Flood | May 20, 2019 | 1000.00K |
| Flood | May 17, 2019 | 500.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2019 | 500.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2019 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Aug 1, 2019 | 25.00K |
| Coastal Flood | May 2, 2017 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 1, 2017 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 1, 2017 | — |
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 27, 2020
A hot and very moist air mass was in place across the region with dewpoints in the 70s and precipitable water values approaching 2 inches. Diurnal instability along a lake breeze boundary allowed for convection to develop. The most notable thing about these boundaries was the intersection of the boundary off of Lake Erie with a weaker one south of Lake Ontario. Thunderstorms developed and train...
Lakeshore Flood — May 20, 2019
Excessive runoff into the Ottawa River Basin in Canada restricted the outlet of Lake Ontario. This combined with above normal precipitation into the Lake Ontario Basin, record levels on the Great Lakes above Lake Ontario, and higher than normal flows into the lake from the Niagara River pushed the lake to well above normal levels. Over the course of May, the levels quickly approached those reac...
Flood — May 17, 2019
Excessive runoff into the Ottawa River Basin in Canada restricted the outlet of Lake Ontario. This combined with above normal precipitation into the Lake Ontario Basin, record levels on the Great Lakes above Lake Ontario, and higher than normal flows into the lake from the Niagara River pushed the lake to well above normal levels. Over the course of May, the levels quickly approached those reac...
Flood — Jun 1, 2019
Excessive runoff into the Ottawa River Basin in Canada restricted the outlet of Lake Ontario. This combined with above normal precipitation into the Lake Ontario Basin, record levels on the Great Lakes above Lake Ontario, and higher than normal flows into the lake from the Niagara River pushed the lake to well above normal levels. Over the course of June, new records were broken as the lake pus...
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 Orleans 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 Orleans 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.