Thomas Lyman House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Durham as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Durham gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #48 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2008.
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 Durham 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 Durham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Durham, and Durham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #48 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Durham’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, Durham has less expected damage per building than 69% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Durham: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Durham flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Durham, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Durham 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.Durham and its neighbors
Durham is 2nd of the 9 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 |
| Durham | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Wallingford | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Middlefield | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Madison | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 448 |
| Haddam | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| North Branford | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Guilford | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 317 |
| Middletown | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| Northford | — | 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 Durham 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 Durham
Is Durham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Durham has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #48 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (12%). 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 Durham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Durham since 2008, $24K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Durham 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 Durham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Durham’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Durham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Durham’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Durham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Durham’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.