Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Norwalk faces more hazard damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norwalk gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #114 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then hurricanes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 1,619 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 Norwalk’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Norwalk 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
Coastal flooding
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 Norwalk’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Norwalk, and Norwalk’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 6%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C #114 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Norwalk’s residents live in 22 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, Norwalk has more expected damage per building than 73% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $32.6M a year in losses across Norwalk: $30.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Norwalk flood? Yes: 1,619 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Norwalk, from FEMA’s records: 42.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy616 claims · $33.4M
- The December Storm - nor’easter256 claims · $4.0M
- Hurricane Irene200 claims · $4.0M
Norwalk 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Norwalk
Disasters that paid out in Norwalk itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Norwalk), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides24 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$817K to the City of Norwalk for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida236 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$543K to the City of Norwalk for repairs25 flood claims paid for it, $751K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$610K to the City of Norwalk for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$323K to the City of Norwalk for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy957 households applied for aid$1.9M aid approved$3.3M to the City of Norwalk for repairs616 flood claims paid for it, $33.4M
- 2011Severe Storm$34K to the City of Norwalk for repairs
Show all 14
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene179 households applied for aid$175K aid approved$970K to the City of Norwalk for repairs200 flood claims paid for it, $4.0M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding250 households applied for aid$117K aid approved$400K to the City of Norwalk for repairs32 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding156 households applied for aid$209K aid approved$201K to the City of Norwalk for repairs61 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Snow$151K to the City of Norwalk for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$131K to the City of Norwalk for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$105K to the City of Norwalk for repairs
- 2003Snow$91K to the City of Norwalk for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd$13K to the City of Norwalk for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Old photos of Norwalk after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Norwalk archive →Norwalk and its neighbors
Norwalk is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilton | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 119 |
| Norwalk | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1,619 |
| Westport | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1,547 |
| New Canaan | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Darien | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 500 |
| Tokeneke | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Saugatuck | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Old Hill | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Poplar Plains | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| South Wilton | — | 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 Norwalk 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Norwalk
Is Norwalk at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norwalk has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #114 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and hurricanes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Norwalk flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,619 claims in Norwalk since 1978, $46.1M in all, or 42.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 257 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (616).
Is Norwalk 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 Norwalk?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Norwalk’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 Norwalk?
By FEMA money that reached Norwalk, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 957 households applied for aid, $1.9M approved, and $3.3M to the City of Norwalk for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 616 paid, $33.4M.
Is Norwalk at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Norwalk’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Norwalk.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Norwalk’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.