Nathaniel Richardson House · Photo: Bruce Clouette · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Middlebury as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middlebury gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #34 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then hurricanes (23%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1979.
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 Middlebury 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 Middlebury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Middlebury, and Middlebury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 23% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #34 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Middlebury’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, Middlebury has less expected damage per building than 79% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Middlebury: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Middlebury flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Middlebury, from FEMA’s records: 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December Storm - nor’easter3 claims · $221K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $19K
Middlebury 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.Middlebury and its neighbors
Middlebury 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlebury | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Oxford | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| Watertown | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Southbury | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 103 |
| Waterbury | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
| Woodbury | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Naugatuck | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
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 Middlebury 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 Middlebury
Is Middlebury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middlebury has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #34 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and hurricanes (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Middlebury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Middlebury since 1979, $307K in all, or 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (3).
Is Middlebury 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, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Middlebury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Middlebury’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 Middlebury?
By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 3 paid, $221K.
Is Middlebury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Middlebury’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Middlebury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Middlebury’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.