Photo: Korossyl · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Lebanon 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, Lebanon gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #28 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then hurricanes (28%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2018.
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 Lebanon 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 Lebanon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lebanon, and Lebanon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 28% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
B #28 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lebanon’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Connecticut town has higher expected damage than 62% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lebanon has less expected damage per building than 82% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Lebanon: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lebanon flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lebanon, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lebanon 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.Lebanon and its neighbors
Lebanon is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebron | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Columbia | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Colchester | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lebanon | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Franklin | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Bozrah | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Windham | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| South Windham | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Willimantic | — | 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 Lebanon 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 Lebanon
Is Lebanon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lebanon has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #28 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and hurricanes (28%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lebanon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Lebanon since 2018, $49K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lebanon 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, 61% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lebanon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lebanon’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Lebanon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Lebanon’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lebanon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lebanon’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.