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Livingston County, New York

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
47th of 62highest risk in New York
$18Mexpected losses a year
16federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Livingston County, New York has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 56% of US counties. It ranks 47th of 62 counties in New York. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $299 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2014 (severe storms and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (204 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $664,000 on 101 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Livingston County

$14.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$833,368 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
$705,114 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate73.3
$15M
TornadoLow39.8
$833K
Cold waveLow42.4
$705K
Strong windLow48.6
$517K
DroughtModerate66.4
$408K
HailLow53.1
$295K
LightningLow49.9
$227K
Heat waveVery Low38.1
$204K
Ice stormModerate64.7
$161K
EarthquakeVery Low41.3
$161K
HurricaneVery Low57.3
$150K
Winter weatherLow34.1
$35K
WildfireVery Low17.7
$6K
LandslideVery Low50.2
$1K
AvalancheVery Low31.4
$116

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Livingston County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm5
Flood3
Snowstorm3
Severe Ice Storm2
Hurricane2
Fire1

Most recent

Jul 8, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jun 10, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
May 12, 2003Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 10, 1999SnowEmergency
Show all 16
Jul 7, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 24, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Mar 21, 1991Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 19, 1976Ice Storm,Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

New York also had 12 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 353 storm reports in Livingston County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $15.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on April 9, 1991.

3tornadoes
40hail reports, largest 2 inches
242damaging thunderstorm winds
53floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 9, 1991F1–0 / 0
Sep 12, 2021EF1Websters Crossing0 / 0
May 22, 1960F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 9, 2003Flash FloodNunda$10M
Apr 9, 1991Tornado–$250K
Jul 8, 1998Flash FloodDansville$250K
Jul 8, 1998Flash FloodDansville$250K
May 20, 2004Flash FloodConesus$200K
Jul 24, 2008Flash FloodSpringwater$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1876, 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Livingston County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 48 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
2tropical storms
1893most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph48 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 14, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph48 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph55 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Livingston County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (204 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$664,339paid on 101 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $101,067 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Livingston County

$174,600median home value (New York $423,800, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (New York 1959, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.9%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 27,328 housing units.

Compare in New York

All 62 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Kings CountyHighInland flooding
Queens CountyHighInland flooding
New York CountyHighInland flooding
Suffolk CountyHighInland flooding
Bronx CountyHighInland flooding
Nassau CountyHighInland flooding
Westchester CountyHighInland flooding
Erie CountyHighInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Monroe CountyModerate17
Ontario CountyLow16
Steuben CountyLow21
Genesee CountyLow21
Allegany CountyLow21
Wyoming CountyVery Low20

Common questions about Livingston County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Livingston County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Livingston County, about $14.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $833,368.

How many federal disasters has Livingston County had?

Livingston County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in July 2014.

Is Livingston County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 47th highest of 62 in New York. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Livingston County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Livingston County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Livingston County had?

NOAA records list 3 tornadoes in Livingston County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on April 9, 1991. The weather service has also logged 40 hail reports and 53 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Livingston County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 2 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Livingston County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.