Yates County Disaster Risk

Yates County, New York

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

47th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#54

of 62 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

67th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 13% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 30% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 27% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 64% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Yates County

Risk Verdict

Yates County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 47th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Flood risk is the dominant hazard for Yates County, scoring in the 67th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 64th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (30th), earthquake (27th), wildfire (13th).

Preparedness Context

With flood risk as the top concern, Yates County residents should review flood insurance needs (standard home insurance does not cover flood damage), know your evacuation zone, and keep important documents waterproofed. Secondary risks such as hurricane also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Yates County is notably safer than the average county in New York. Its composite risk score is 22.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Yates County, NY?
Yates County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 47th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Yates County?
Yates County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (67th percentile), hurricane (64th percentile), tornado (30th percentile), earthquake (27th percentile), wildfire (13th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 67th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Yates County risk compare to the New York average?
Yates County's composite risk percentile is 47th, compared to the New York state average of 69th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Yates County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in New York.
Is Yates County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Yates County's flooding risk is at the 67th percentile nationally. This is above the national median.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Yates County a safe place to live?
Yates County's composite risk score of 47th percentile is below the New York state average of 69th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is flooding at the 67th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.
By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.