Riverton Historic District · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Barkhamsted than in 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barkhamsted gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #136 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%), then hurricanes (12%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Barkhamsted faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Barkhamsted’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barkhamsted, and Barkhamsted’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #136 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Barkhamsted’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Connecticut town has higher expected damage than 62% of U.S. towns; within the state, Barkhamsted has more expected damage per building than 88% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Barkhamsted: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Barkhamsted flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Barkhamsted. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Barkhamsted isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: the county.Barkhamsted and its neighbors
Barkhamsted is 4th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartland | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Granby | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Canton | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Barkhamsted | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| New Hartford | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Winchester | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Winsted | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| New Hartford Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Barkhamsted faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Barkhamsted
Is Barkhamsted at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barkhamsted has higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #136 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (12%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Barkhamsted in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In the county, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Barkhamsted?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barkhamsted’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Barkhamsted at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Barkhamsted’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barkhamsted.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barkhamsted’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.