Jason Skinner House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Harwinton than in 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harwinton gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #20 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then hurricanes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2008.
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 Harwinton 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 Harwinton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harwinton, and Harwinton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 19% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
B #20 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Harwinton’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, Harwinton has less expected damage per building than 88% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Harwinton: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Harwinton flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Harwinton, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Harwinton 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.Harwinton and its neighbors
Harwinton has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harwinton | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Litchfield | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Burlington | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Plymouth | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Torrington | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| New Hartford | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Thomaston | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Northwest Harwinton | — | 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 Harwinton 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 Harwinton
Is Harwinton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harwinton has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #20 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and hurricanes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Harwinton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Harwinton since 2008, $3K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Harwinton 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, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Harwinton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Harwinton’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Harwinton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Harwinton’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harwinton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Harwinton’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.