Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Stamford than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stamford gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #141 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 940 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 Stamford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Stamford 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 Stamford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stamford, and Stamford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #141 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Stamford’s residents live in 33 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, Stamford has more expected damage per building than 91% of Connecticut towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Stamford has higher expected damage per building than 72% (#290 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $49.0M, is the 247th largest of those 400.
Does Stamford flood? Yes: 940 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Stamford, from FEMA’s records: 16.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy195 claims · $12.5M
- The December Storm - nor’easter96 claims · $2.1M
- Hurricane Ida91 claims · $4.8M
Stamford is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: the county.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Stamford
Disasters that paid out in Stamford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Stamford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides60 households applied for aid$205K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida486 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$1.5M to the City of Stamford for repairs91 flood claims paid for it, $4.8M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$1.3M to the City of Stamford for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$228K to the City of Stamford for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy518 households applied for aid$447K aid approved$3.7M to the City of Stamford for repairs195 flood claims paid for it, $12.5M
- 2011Severe Storm$229K to the City of Stamford for repairs
Show all 15
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene163 households applied for aid$121K aid approved$770K to the City of Stamford for repairs69 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2011Snowstorm$201K to the City of Stamford for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding147 households applied for aid$185K aid approved$436K to the City of Stamford for repairs47 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding184 households applied for aid$217K aid approved$71K to the City of Stamford for repairs161 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Snow$265K to the City of Stamford for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$288K to the City of Stamford for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$257K to the City of Stamford for repairs
- 2003Snow$174K to the City of Stamford for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd$36K to the City of Stamford for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Old photos of Stamford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Stamford archive →Stamford and its neighbors
Stamford is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pound Ridge | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| North Castle | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Greenwich | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1,198 |
| New Canaan | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Darien | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 500 |
| Stamford | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 940 |
| Old Greenwich | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Noroton | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Noroton Heights | — | 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 Stamford 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.
- Stamford residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Stamford
Is Stamford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stamford has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #141 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Stamford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 940 claims in Stamford since 1978, $30.0M in all, or 16.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 134 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (195).
Is Stamford 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 Stamford?
Stamford is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Stamford?
By FEMA money that reached Stamford, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 518 households applied for aid, $447K approved, and $3.7M to the City of Stamford for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 195 paid, $12.5M.
Is Stamford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Stamford’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stamford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stamford’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.