Villa Bella Vista · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ. M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Chester than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chester gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #109 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 34 claims 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 Chester 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 Chester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chester, and Chester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #109 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Chester’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, Chester has more expected damage per building than 70% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Chester: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chester flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chester, from FEMA’s records: 19.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter4 claims · $46K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $21K
Chester 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.Chester and its neighbors
Chester is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Haddam | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Deep River | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Haddam | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Chester | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Lyme | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Deep River Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Chester 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 Chester 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 Chester
Is Chester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chester has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #109 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (10%). 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 Chester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Chester since 1982, $645K in all, or 19.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (4).
Is Chester 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, 42% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chester’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 Chester?
By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 4 paid, $46K.
Is Chester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Chester’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chester’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.