Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Bridgeport than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgeport gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #144 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then hurricanes (21%). Flood insurance has paid 711 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 Bridgeport’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bridgeport 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 Bridgeport’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bridgeport, and Bridgeport’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #144 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bridgeport’s residents live in 38 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, Bridgeport has more expected damage per building than 93% of Connecticut towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Bridgeport has higher expected damage per building than 73% (#293 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $38.4M, is the 305th largest of those 400.
Does Bridgeport flood? Yes: 711 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bridgeport, from FEMA’s records: 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy170 claims · $6.1M
- Hurricane Irene67 claims · $1.6M
Bridgeport 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bridgeport
Disasters that paid out in Bridgeport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bridgeport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides31 households applied for aid$20K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida281 households applied for aid$645K aid approved34 flood claims paid for it, $748K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy2,471 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved170 flood claims paid for it, $6.1M
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene505 households applied for aid$866K aid approved67 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding98 households applied for aid$140K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding110 households applied for aid$104K aid approved22 flood claims paid that year
Old photos of Bridgeport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bridgeport archive →Bridgeport and its neighbors
Bridgeport is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trumbull | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 151 |
| Stratford | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 628 |
| Fairfield | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 2,056 |
| Bridgeport | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 711 |
| Trumbull Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Sacred Heart University | — | 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 Bridgeport 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 Bridgeport
Is Bridgeport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgeport has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #144 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and hurricanes (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bridgeport flood?
Flood insurance has paid 711 claims in Bridgeport since 1978, $15.2M in all, or 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 111 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (170).
Is Bridgeport 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, 51% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bridgeport?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bridgeport’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 Bridgeport?
By FEMA money that reached Bridgeport, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 2,471 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 170 paid, $6.1M.
Is Bridgeport at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Bridgeport’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bridgeport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bridgeport’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.