Natural hazards · Hanover

Hanover, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Hanover comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1,166 claims here since 1978. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Hanover?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Hanover to be higher than in 42% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding81%Tornadoes6%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Hanover faces

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

Inland flooding

81% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 34% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Hanover flood?

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

1,166paid claims since 1978

$5.8Mpaid to owners

176homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Late summer storms: 10 claims, $99K
Tropical Storm Lee: 1 claim, $33K

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 3 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (13) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Chautauqua County.

Disasters that hit Hanover

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HanoverDeclared for Chautauqua County only

2014

Severe Storms and Flooding

$73K to the Town of Hanover for repairs

2009

Severe Storms and Flooding

$456K to the Town of Hanover for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

$5K to the Town of Hanover for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$397K to the Town of Hanover for repairs

2001

Snow

$19K to the Town of Hanover for repairs

1999

Snow

$6K to the Town of Hanover for repairs

Chautauqua County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and severe storms.

Around Hanover

Hanover and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Perrysburgmostly inland floodingHigh

Villenovamostly inland floodingModerate

Arkwrightmostly inland floodingModerate

Hanovermostly inland floodingModerate

Silver Creekmostly inland floodingModerate

Sheridanmostly inland floodingVery low

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. Hanover covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Hanover’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Hanover. 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 Hanover total about $2.0M 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.