Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Bristol than in 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bristol gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #128 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 190 claims here since 1979.
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 Bristol’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bristol 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 Bristol’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bristol, and Bristol’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #128 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bristol’s residents live in 14 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, Bristol has more expected damage per building than 82% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.7M a year in losses across Bristol: $17.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bristol flood? Yes: 190 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bristol, from FEMA’s records: 7.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene46 claims · $2.1M
- Hurricane Floyd21 claims · $506K
Bristol 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bristol
Disasters that paid out in Bristol itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bristol), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$308K to the City of Bristol for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$287K to the City of Bristol for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$2.9M to the City of Bristol for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene190 households applied for aid$384K aid approved$371K to the City of Bristol for repairs46 flood claims paid for it, $2.1M
- 2011Snowstorm$121K to the City of Bristol for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding41 households applied for aid$27K aid approved19 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2006Snow$161K to the City of Bristol for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$153K to the City of Bristol for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$142K to the City of Bristol for repairs
- 2003Snow$130K to the City of Bristol for repairs
- 2003Snow$131K to the City of Bristol for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd$179K to the City of Bristol for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $506K
Old photos of Bristol after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bristol archive →Bristol and its neighbors
Bristol is 7th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolcott | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Burlington | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Southington | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Farmington | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Plainville | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Plymouth | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Bristol | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 190 |
| Terryville | — | 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 Bristol 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 Bristol
Is Bristol at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bristol has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #128 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bristol flood?
Flood insurance has paid 190 claims in Bristol since 1979, $3.9M in all, or 7.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 32 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (46).
Is Bristol 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, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bristol?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bristol’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 Bristol?
By FEMA money that reached Bristol, Severe Storm (2011): $2.9M to the City of Bristol for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 46 paid, $2.1M.
Is Bristol at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Bristol’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bristol.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bristol’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.