Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Danbury faces more hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Danbury gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #89 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then hurricanes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 186 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 Danbury’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Danbury 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 Danbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Danbury, and Danbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 17% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #89 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Danbury’s residents live in 20 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, Danbury has more expected damage per building than 57% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $27.4M a year in losses across Danbury: $25.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Danbury flood? Yes: 186 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Danbury, from FEMA’s records: 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd36 claims · $2.3M
- Hurricane Irene23 claims · $667K
- Hurricane Ida13 claims · $1.3M
Danbury 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.16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Danbury
Disasters that paid out in Danbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Danbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides51 households applied for aid$170K aid approved$352K to the City of Danbury for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida67 households applied for aid$144K aid approved$219K to the City of Danbury for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$360K to the City of Danbury for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$515K to the City of Danbury for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$201K to the City of Danbury for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy165 households applied for aid$109K aid approved$304K to the City of Danbury for repairs
Show all 16
- 2011Severe Storm$2.9M to the City of Danbury for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene119 households applied for aid$176K aid approved$248K to the City of Danbury for repairs23 flood claims paid for it, $667K
- 2011Snowstorm$153K to the City of Danbury for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$7K to the City of Danbury for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding126 households applied for aid$124K aid approved$205K to the City of Danbury for repairs37 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Snow$156K to the City of Danbury for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$146K to the City of Danbury for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$124K to the City of Danbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$103K to the City of Danbury for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd$399K to the City of Danbury for repairs36 flood claims paid for it, $2.3M
Old photos of Danbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Danbury archive →Danbury and its neighbors
Danbury 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Ridgefield | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| Bethel | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| New Fairfield | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Redding | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Brookfield | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Danbury | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 186 |
| Ridgebury | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Taylor Corners | — | 481 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Danbury 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 Danbury
Is Danbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Danbury has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #89 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Danbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 186 claims in Danbury since 1978, $7.8M in all, or 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 30 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (36).
Is Danbury 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, 57% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Danbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Danbury’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 Danbury?
By FEMA money that reached Danbury, Severe Storm (2011): $2.9M to the City of Danbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 36 paid, $2.3M.
Is Danbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Danbury’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Danbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Danbury’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.