Rev. John Ely House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Bethel faces less hazard damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bethel gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #19 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 49 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Bethel’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bethel 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 Bethel’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bethel, and Bethel’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 22% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B #19 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bethel’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Connecticut town has higher expected damage than 62% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bethel has less expected damage per building than 88% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.6M a year in losses across Bethel: $5.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bethel flood? Sometimes: 49 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bethel, from FEMA’s records: 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd8 claims · $114K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $19K
Bethel 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bethel
Disasters that paid out in Bethel itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bethel), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$83K to the Town of Bethel for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$200K to the Town of Bethel for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$35K to the Town of Bethel for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$51K to the Town of Bethel for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$71K to the Town of Bethel for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$338K to the Town of Bethel for repairs
Show all 14
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$59K to the Town of Bethel for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $19K
- 2011Snowstorm$59K to the Town of Bethel for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the Town of Bethel for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$20K to the Town of Bethel for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Snow$43K to the Town of Bethel for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$42K to the Town of Bethel for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$37K to the Town of Bethel for repairs
- 2003Snow$40K to the Town of Bethel for repairs
Old photos of Bethel after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bethel archive →Bethel and its neighbors
Bethel has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Redding | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Newtown | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Brookfield | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Danbury | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 186 |
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 Bethel 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 Bethel
Is Bethel at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bethel has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #19 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bethel flood?
Flood insurance has paid 49 claims in Bethel since 1978, $739K in all, or 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (8).
Is Bethel 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, 57% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bethel?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bethel’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bethel?
By FEMA money that reached Bethel, Severe Storm (2011): $338K to the Town of Bethel for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 8 paid, $114K.
Is Bethel at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Bethel’s rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bethel.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bethel’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.