Photo: Sphilbrick · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Bolton faces less hazard damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bolton gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #2 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1982.
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 Bolton 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 Bolton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bolton, and Bolton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #2 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Bolton’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, Bolton has less expected damage per building than 99% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $911K a year in losses across Bolton: $757K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bolton flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bolton, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bolton 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.Bolton and its neighbors
Bolton is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebron | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Bolton | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Manchester | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Glastonbury | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Andover | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Vernon | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
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 Bolton 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 Bolton
Is Bolton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bolton has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #2 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (9%). 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.
Does Bolton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Bolton since 1982, $4K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Bolton 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, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bolton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bolton’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Bolton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Bolton’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bolton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bolton’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.