Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Lisbon 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, Lisbon gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #67 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then hurricanes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 6 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 Lisbon 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 Lisbon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lisbon, and Lisbon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 25% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #67 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lisbon’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, Lisbon has less expected damage per building than 57% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Lisbon: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lisbon flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lisbon, from FEMA’s records: 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $14K
Lisbon 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lisbon
Disasters that paid out in Lisbon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lisbon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$37K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$33K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$17K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs
- 2011Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$10K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$9K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs
- 2003Snow$5K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs
Old photos of Lisbon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lisbon archive →Lisbon and its neighbors
Lisbon is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preston | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Lisbon | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Griswold | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Jewett City | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Norwich | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 208 |
| Sprague | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Lisbon 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 Lisbon
Is Lisbon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lisbon has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #67 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and hurricanes (25%). 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 Lisbon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Lisbon since 1978, $16K in all, or 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (2).
Is Lisbon 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 Lisbon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lisbon’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 Lisbon?
By FEMA money that reached Lisbon, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2015): $37K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $14K.
Is Lisbon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Lisbon’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lisbon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lisbon’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.