Natural hazards · Colden

Colden, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Colden comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1979. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Colden?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Colden to be higher than in 61% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding85%Cold waves9%Everything else6%

By hazard

What Colden faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

85% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Cold waves

9% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 41% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Colden flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Colden, from FEMA’s records.

5paid claims since 1979

$7Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Late summer storms: 1 claim, $1K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Colden isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Erie County.

Disasters that hit Colden

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Colden itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Colden.

Brought FEMA money into ColdenDeclared for Erie County only

2022

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$27K to the Town of Colden for repairs

2009

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $651 aid approved

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$82K to the Town of Colden for repairs

2001

Severe Winter Storm

$14K to the Town of Colden for repairs

2000

Snow

$6K to the Town of Colden for repairs

2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$78K to the Town of Colden for repairs

1999

Snow

$4K to the Town of Colden for repairs

Erie County has had 20 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and severe storms.

Around Colden

Colden and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Coldenmostly inland floodingHigh

Bostonmostly inland floodingModerate

Hollandmostly inland floodingModerate

Auroramostly inland floodingLow

Sardiniamostly inland floodingLow

Concordmostly inland floodingLow

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Colden covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Colden’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Colden. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Colden total about $1.2M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.