Ebenezer Grant House · Photo: –Grondemar · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in South Windsor as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Windsor gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #30 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 17 claims here since 1984.
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 South Windsor 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 South Windsor’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in South Windsor, and South Windsor’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B #30 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
South Windsor’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, South Windsor has less expected damage per building than 81% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.7M a year in losses across South Windsor: $7.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does South Windsor flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in South Windsor, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $3K
South Windsor 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 South Windsor
Disasters that paid out in South Windsor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of South Windsor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$298K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$207K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$5.7M to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$115K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
- 2011Snowstorm$74K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
- 2006Snow$58K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
Show all 11
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$23K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$65K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
- 2003Snow$55K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
- 2003Snow$41K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd$5K to the Town of South Windsor for repairs
Old photos of South Windsor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the South Windsor archive →South Windsor and its neighbors
South Windsor is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Windsor | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| South Windsor | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Ellington | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Manchester | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Windsor | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| East Hartford | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Hartford | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Vernon | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
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 South Windsor 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 South Windsor
Is South Windsor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Windsor has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #30 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does South Windsor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in South Windsor since 1984, $155K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (1).
Is South Windsor 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 South Windsor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for South Windsor’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 South Windsor?
By FEMA money that reached South Windsor, Severe Storm (2011): $5.7M to the Town of South Windsor for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 1 paid, $3K.
Is South Windsor at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and South Windsor’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in South Windsor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where South Windsor’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.