Knesseth Israel Synagogue · Photo: Elipongo · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Ellington 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, Ellington gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #33 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1982.
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 Ellington 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 Ellington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ellington, and Ellington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #33 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ellington’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, Ellington has less expected damage per building than 79% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Ellington: $4.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ellington flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ellington, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $6K
Ellington 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.Ellington and its neighbors
Ellington is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tolland | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| East Windsor | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Somers | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| South Windsor | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Ellington | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Willington | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Stafford | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Vernon | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Crystal Lake | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Stafford Springs | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Broad Brook | — | 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 Ellington 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 Ellington
Is Ellington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ellington has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #33 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ellington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Ellington since 1982, $31K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (1).
Is Ellington 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, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ellington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ellington’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 Ellington?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 1 paid, $6K.
Is Ellington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Ellington’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ellington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ellington’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.