Photo: Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Ledyard than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ledyard gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #10 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then hurricanes (37%). Flood insurance has paid 17 claims here since 1982.
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 Ledyard 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 Ledyard’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ledyard, and Ledyard’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 37% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #10 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ledyard’s residents live in 3 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, Ledyard has less expected damage per building than 94% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Ledyard: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ledyard flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ledyard, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter9 claims · $94K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $23K
Ledyard 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.Ledyard and its neighbors
Ledyard 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ledyard | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Groton | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 105 |
| North Stonington | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Waterford | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 88 |
| Stonington | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Preston | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Montville | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Conning Towers-Nautilus Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Gales Ferry | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Oxoboxo River | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Old Mystic | — | 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 Ledyard 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 Ledyard
Is Ledyard at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ledyard has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #10 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and hurricanes (37%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ledyard flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Ledyard since 1982, $191K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (9).
Is Ledyard 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 Ledyard?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ledyard’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 Ledyard?
By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 9 paid, $94K.
Is Ledyard at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Ledyard’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ledyard.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ledyard’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.