Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Plainfield faces more hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plainfield gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #115 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hurricanes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 4 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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plainfield, and Plainfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 19% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
C #115 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plainfield’s residents live in 3 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, Plainfield has more expected damage per building than 74% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Plainfield: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plainfield flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plainfield, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $282K
Plainfield 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Plainfield
Disasters that paid out in Plainfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Plainfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$154K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$66K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$49K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$33K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$123K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs
- 2006Snow$36K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs
Show all 9
- 2005Record Snow$32K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$30K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$19K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs
Old photos of Plainfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plainfield archive →Plainfield and its neighbors
Plainfield is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voluntown | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Canterbury | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brooklyn | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Sterling | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Griswold | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Plainfield | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Killingly | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Wauregan | — | 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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield
Is Plainfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plainfield has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #115 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plainfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Plainfield since 1978, $290K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (1).
Is Plainfield 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, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Plainfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plainfield’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 Plainfield?
By FEMA money that reached Plainfield, Tropical Storm Isaias (2020): $154K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $282K.
Is Plainfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Plainfield’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plainfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plainfield’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.