Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Prospect than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prospect gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #4 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then hurricanes (29%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2011.
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 Prospect 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 Prospect’s grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Prospect, and Prospect’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 29% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #4 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Prospect’s residents live in 2 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, Prospect has less expected damage per building than 98% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Prospect: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Prospect flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Prospect, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Prospect 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Prospect
Disasters that paid out in Prospect itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Prospect), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$78K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$34K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$82K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$34K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$362K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$44K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Snowstorm$36K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
- 2006Snow$23K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$22K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
- 2003Snow$21K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
- 2003Snow$20K to the Town of Prospect for repairs
Old photos of Prospect after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Prospect archive →Prospect and its neighbors
Prospect has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prospect | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Bethany | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Cheshire | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Waterbury | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
| Naugatuck | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
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 Prospect 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 Prospect
Is Prospect at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prospect has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #4 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and hurricanes (29%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Prospect flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Prospect since 2011, $3K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Prospect 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, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Prospect?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Prospect’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 Prospect?
By FEMA money that reached Prospect, Severe Storm (2011): $362K to the Town of Prospect for repairs.
Is Prospect at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Prospect’s rate for it is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Prospect.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Prospect’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.