Photo: Jeff Bellinger · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Clinton than in 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clinton gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #135 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then coastal flooding (13%). Flood insurance has paid 345 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 Clinton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Clinton 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
Coastal 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 Clinton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clinton, and Clinton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 13%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #135 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Clinton’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, Clinton has more expected damage per building than 87% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across Clinton: $5.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clinton flood? Yes: 345 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clinton, from FEMA’s records: 53.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy102 claims · $3.7M
- Hurricane Irene79 claims · $3.4M
Clinton 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.Clinton and its neighbors
Clinton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killingworth | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Westbrook | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 398 |
| Madison | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 448 |
| Clinton | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 345 |
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 Clinton 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Clinton
Is Clinton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clinton has higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #135 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and coastal flooding (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Clinton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 345 claims in Clinton since 1978, $8.4M in all, or 53.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 58 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (102).
Is Clinton 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 Clinton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clinton’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 Clinton?
By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 102 paid, $3.7M.
Is Clinton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Clinton’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clinton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clinton’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.