Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Hartford than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hartford gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #119 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 43 claims here since 1979.
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 Hartford 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
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 Hartford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hartford, and Hartford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C #119 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hartford’s residents live in 41 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, Hartford has more expected damage per building than 77% of Connecticut towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Hartford has higher expected damage per building than 66% (#264 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $36.4M, is the 318th largest of those 400.
Does Hartford flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hartford, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd4 claims · $75K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $11K
Hartford 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.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hartford
Disasters that paid out in Hartford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hartford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$1.2M to the City of Hartford for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$1.5M to the City of Hartford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$3.8M to the City of Hartford for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene195 households applied for aid$104K aid approved$133K to the City of Hartford for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $11K
- 2011Snowstorm$159K to the City of Hartford for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$6K to the City of Hartford for repairs
Show all 13
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2006Snow$195K to the City of Hartford for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$155K to the City of Hartford for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$5K to the City of Hartford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$112K to the City of Hartford for repairs
- 2003Snow$123K to the City of Hartford for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd$49K to the City of Hartford for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $75K
Old photos of Hartford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hartford archive →Hartford and its neighbors
Hartford is 8th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Windsor | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Wethersfield | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Newington | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Windsor | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Bloomfield | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| West Hartford | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 282 |
| East Hartford | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Hartford | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Blue Hills | — | 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 Hartford 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.
- 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 Hartford
Is Hartford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hartford has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #119 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hartford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in Hartford since 1979, $692K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (4).
Is Hartford 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 Hartford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hartford’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 Hartford?
By FEMA money that reached Hartford, Severe Storm (2011): $3.8M to the City of Hartford for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 4 paid, $75K.
Is Hartford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Hartford’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hartford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hartford’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.