Photo: AirportExpert · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in New Milford than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Milford gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #152 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 108 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 New Milford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What New Milford 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 Milford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Milford, and New Milford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
D #152 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Milford’s residents live in 5 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 Milford has more expected damage per building than 98% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.2M a year in losses across New Milford: $15.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Milford flood? Yes: 108 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Milford, from FEMA’s records: 9.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene9 claims · $760K
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $15K
New Milford 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.New Milford and its neighbors
New Milford is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Fairfield | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Bridgewater | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Brookfield | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Washington | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Sherman | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Kent | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| New Milford | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
| Gaylordsville | — | 740 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| New Preston | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Chimney Point | — | 117 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Candlewood Lake Club | — | 255 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Milford 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 Milford
Is New Milford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Milford has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #152 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Milford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 108 claims in New Milford since 1978, $3.4M in all, or 9.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 17 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (9).
Is New Milford 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, 57% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Milford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Milford’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 Milford?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 9 paid, $760K.
Is New Milford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and New Milford’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Milford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Milford’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.