Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, North Stonington 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, North Stonington gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #52 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then hurricanes (28%). Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1985.
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 North Stonington 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 North Stonington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in North Stonington, and North Stonington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 28% (higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #52 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of North Stonington’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, North Stonington has less expected damage per building than 67% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across North Stonington: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does North Stonington flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in North Stonington, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter9 claims · $146K
North Stonington 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.North Stonington and its neighbors
North Stonington is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westerly | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 704 |
| Ledyard | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Voluntown | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hopkinton | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| North Stonington | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Stonington | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Preston | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Griswold | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Ashaway | — | 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 North Stonington 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 North Stonington
Is North Stonington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Stonington has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #52 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and hurricanes (28%). 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 North Stonington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in North Stonington since 1985, $174K in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (9).
Is North Stonington 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 North Stonington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for North Stonington’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 North Stonington?
By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 9 paid, $146K.
Is North Stonington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and North Stonington’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in North Stonington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where North Stonington’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.