Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in New Britain as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Britain gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #27 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 98 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 New Britain 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 New Britain’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Britain, and New Britain’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B #27 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Britain’s residents live in 21 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, New Britain has less expected damage per building than 83% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.0M a year in losses across New Britain: $12.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Britain flood? Sometimes: 98 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Britain, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida12 claims · $177K
- Hurricane Floyd7 claims · $19K
New Britain 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Britain
Disasters that paid out in New Britain itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of New Britain), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$205K to the City of New Britain for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$263K to the City of New Britain for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1 households applied for aid$248 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$556K to the City of New Britain for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene87 households applied for aid$65K aid approved$52K to the City of New Britain for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $80K
- 2011Snowstorm$121K to the City of New Britain for repairs
Show all 12
- 2006Snow$90K to the City of New Britain for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$85K to the City of New Britain for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$105K to the City of New Britain for repairs
- 2003Snow$53K to the City of New Britain for repairs
- 2003Snow$69K to the City of New Britain for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd$29K to the City of New Britain for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $19K
Old photos of New Britain after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Britain archive →New Britain and its neighbors
New Britain has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Britain | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Newington | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Southington | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Farmington | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Berlin | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Plainville | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Kensington | — | 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 New Britain 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 New Britain
Is New Britain at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Britain has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #27 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Britain flood?
Flood insurance has paid 98 claims in New Britain since 1978, $756K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (12).
Is New Britain 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, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Britain?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Britain’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 New Britain?
By FEMA money that reached New Britain, Severe Storm (2011): $556K to the City of New Britain for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 12 paid, $177K.
Is New Britain at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and New Britain’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Britain.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Britain’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.