Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Simsbury than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Simsbury gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #96 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 73 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 Simsbury’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Simsbury 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
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 Simsbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Simsbury, and Simsbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
C #96 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Simsbury’s residents live in 6 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, Simsbury has more expected damage per building than 62% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.4M a year in losses across Simsbury: $7.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Simsbury flood? Sometimes: 73 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Simsbury, from FEMA’s records: 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene11 claims · $223K
Simsbury 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Simsbury
Disasters that paid out in Simsbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Simsbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$129K to the Town of Simsbury for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$100K to the Town of Simsbury for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$2.8M to the Town of Simsbury for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$45K to the Town of Simsbury for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $223K
- 2011Snowstorm$57K to the Town of Simsbury for repairs
- 2006Snow$33K to the Town of Simsbury for repairs
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$29K to the Town of Simsbury for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$41K to the Town of Simsbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$50K to the Town of Simsbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$33K to the Town of Simsbury for repairs
Old photos of Simsbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Simsbury archive →Simsbury and its neighbors
Simsbury is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Granby | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Bloomfield | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Granby | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Simsbury | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 73 |
| Avon | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Canton | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Tariffville | — | 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 Simsbury 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.
- 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 Simsbury
Is Simsbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Simsbury has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #96 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Simsbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 73 claims in Simsbury since 1978, $627K in all, or 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (11).
Is Simsbury 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, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Simsbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Simsbury’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 Simsbury?
By FEMA money that reached Simsbury, Severe Storm (2011): $2.8M to the Town of Simsbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 11 paid, $223K.
Is Simsbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Simsbury’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Simsbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Simsbury’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.