Photo: Alex756 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts East Lyme’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Lyme gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #107 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then hurricanes (26%). Flood insurance has paid 195 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 East Lyme’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What East Lyme 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 East Lyme’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in East Lyme, and East Lyme’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C #107 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
East Lyme’s residents live in 5 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, East Lyme has more expected damage per building than 69% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across East Lyme: $6.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does East Lyme flood? Yes: 195 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in East Lyme, from FEMA’s records: 21.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy63 claims · $3.5M
- The March 2010 nor’easter30 claims · $383K
East Lyme is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: the county.East Lyme and its neighbors
East Lyme 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Old Lyme | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 309 |
| Waterford | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 88 |
| East Lyme | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 195 |
| Lyme | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Niantic | — | 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 East Lyme 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.
- East Lyme residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in East Lyme
Is East Lyme at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Lyme has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #107 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and hurricanes (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does East Lyme flood?
Flood insurance has paid 195 claims in East Lyme since 1978, $4.5M in all, or 21.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 22 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (63).
Is East Lyme 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 East Lyme?
East Lyme is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in East Lyme?
By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 63 paid, $3.5M.
Is East Lyme at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and East Lyme’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in East Lyme.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where East Lyme’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.