Photo: Joe Mabel (on Flickr as Joe Mabel from Seattle, US) · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Essex 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, Essex gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #70 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 63 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 Essex’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Essex 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 Essex’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Essex, and Essex’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #70 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Essex’s residents live in 2 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, Essex has less expected damage per building than 55% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Essex: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Essex flood? Sometimes: 63 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Essex, from FEMA’s records: 19.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter7 claims · $48K
- Hurricane Sandy5 claims · $85K
Essex 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.Essex and its neighbors
Essex is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Saybrook | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 628 |
| Westbrook | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 398 |
| Essex | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| Deep River | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Lyme | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Essex Village | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Deep River Center | — | 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 Essex 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 Essex
Is Essex at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Essex has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #70 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Essex flood?
Flood insurance has paid 63 claims in Essex since 1978, $1.4M in all, or 19.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (7).
Is Essex 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 Essex?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Essex’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 Essex?
By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 7 paid, $48K.
Is Essex at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Essex’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Essex.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Essex’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.