Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Meriden than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Meriden gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #140 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 182 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 stands out about Meriden’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Meriden 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 Meriden’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Meriden, and Meriden’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 17% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #140 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Meriden’s residents live in 18 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, Meriden has more expected damage per building than 90% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.0M a year in losses across Meriden: $16.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Meriden flood? Yes: 182 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Meriden, from FEMA’s records: 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Elsa5 claims · $74K
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $12K
Meriden 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.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Meriden
Disasters that paid out in Meriden itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Meriden), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides16 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida10 households applied for aid$3K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $8K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$94K to the City of Meriden for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$246K to the City of Meriden for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$411K to the City of Meriden for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy18 households applied for aid$117K to the City of Meriden for repairs
Show all 15
- 2011Severe Storm$815K to the City of Meriden for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene124 households applied for aid$61K aid approved$342K to the City of Meriden for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $12K
- 2011Snowstorm$164K to the City of Meriden for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$9K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Snow$112K to the City of Meriden for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$107K to the City of Meriden for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$117K to the City of Meriden for repairs
- 2003Snow$85K to the City of Meriden for repairs
Old photos of Meriden after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Meriden archive →Meriden and its neighbors
Meriden is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallingford | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Cheshire | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Southington | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Middlefield | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Berlin | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Meriden | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 182 |
| Middletown | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
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 Meriden 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 Meriden
Is Meriden at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Meriden has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #140 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Meriden flood?
Flood insurance has paid 182 claims in Meriden since 1978, $2.5M in all, or 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 27 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Elsa (5).
Is Meriden 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, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Meriden?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Meriden’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 Meriden?
By FEMA money that reached Meriden, Severe Storm (2011): $815K to the City of Meriden for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Elsa: 5 paid, $74K.
Is Meriden at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Meriden’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Meriden.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Meriden’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.