Photo: Thundersnow · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Colchester faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colchester gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #25 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then hurricanes (31%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1980.
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 Colchester 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 Colchester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Colchester, and Colchester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 31% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
B #25 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Colchester’s residents live in 3 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, Colchester has less expected damage per building than 84% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Colchester: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Colchester flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Colchester, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Colchester 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 Colchester
Disasters that paid out in Colchester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Colchester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$94K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$45K to the Town of Colchester for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$69K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$88K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$122K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$14K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$112K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
- 2011Snowstorm$45K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$12K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$49K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
- 2003Snow$34K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
- 2003Snow$31K to the Town of Colchester for repairs
Old photos of Colchester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Colchester archive →Colchester and its neighbors
Colchester is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebron | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Salem | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| East Haddam | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Colchester | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lebanon | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Marlborough | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| East Hampton | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
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 Colchester 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 Colchester
Is Colchester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colchester has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #25 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and hurricanes (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Colchester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Colchester since 1980, $6K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Colchester 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, 61% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Colchester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Colchester’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 Colchester?
By FEMA money that reached Colchester, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $122K to the Town of Colchester for repairs.
Is Colchester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Colchester’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Colchester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Colchester’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.