Photo: Photograph by Greg O'Beirne · CC BY 2.5Less hazard damage per building is expected in Tolland than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tolland gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #7 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 6 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 Tolland 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 Tolland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tolland, and Tolland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #7 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tolland’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, Tolland has less expected damage per building than 96% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Tolland: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tolland flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tolland, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Elsa1 claim · $20K
Tolland 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tolland
Disasters that paid out in Tolland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Tolland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$201K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$91K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$130K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$113K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$609K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$104K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Snowstorm$70K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2006Snow$46K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$70K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$54K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2003Snow$50K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
- 2003Snow$39K to the Town of Tolland for repairs
Old photos of Tolland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tolland archive →Tolland and its neighbors
Tolland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tolland | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Coventry | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Ellington | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Willington | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Vernon | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Crystal Lake | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Rockville | — | 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 Tolland 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 Tolland
Is Tolland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tolland has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #7 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tolland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Tolland since 1978, $29K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Elsa (1).
Is Tolland 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 Tolland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tolland’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 Tolland?
By FEMA money that reached Tolland, Severe Storm (2011): $609K to the Town of Tolland for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Elsa: 1 paid, $20K.
Is Tolland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Tolland’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tolland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tolland’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.