Photo: Dmadeo · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Guilford than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Guilford gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #104 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then hurricanes (26%). Flood insurance has paid 317 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 Guilford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Guilford 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
Coastal flooding
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 Guilford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Guilford, and Guilford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 7%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C #104 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Guilford’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, Guilford has more expected damage per building than 67% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.1M a year in losses across Guilford: $8.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Guilford flood? Yes: 317 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Guilford, from FEMA’s records: 32.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy84 claims · $3.5M
- Hurricane Irene79 claims · $3.0M
Guilford is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: the county.Guilford and its neighbors
Guilford is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Branford | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 588 |
| Madison | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 448 |
| North Branford | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Guilford | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 317 |
| Guilford Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| 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 Guilford 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Guilford 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 Guilford
Is Guilford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Guilford has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #104 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and hurricanes (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Guilford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 317 claims in Guilford since 1978, $8.3M in all, or 32.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 64 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (84).
Is Guilford 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, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Guilford?
Guilford 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 Guilford?
By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 84 paid, $3.5M.
Is Guilford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Guilford’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Guilford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Guilford’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.