John Barker House · Photo: UDChE89 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Wallingford faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wallingford gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #54 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then hurricanes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 104 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 Wallingford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wallingford 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 Wallingford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wallingford, and Wallingford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 25% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #54 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wallingford’s residents live in 11 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, Wallingford has less expected damage per building than 66% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.1M a year in losses across Wallingford: $12.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wallingford flood? Yes: 104 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wallingford, from FEMA’s records: 5.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Elsa2 claims · $15K
- Hurricane Ida2 claims · $15K
Wallingford 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.18 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wallingford
Disasters that paid out in Wallingford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wallingford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$972K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$1.3M to the Town of Wallingford for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$49K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms and Flooding$290K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$150K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$173K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
Show all 18
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$421K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $12K
- 2011Severe Storm$629K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$695K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$54K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2011Snowstorm$121K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$1K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2006Snow$68K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$68K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$67K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2003Snow$50K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs
- 2001Snow$3K to the Town of Wallingford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Old photos of Wallingford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wallingford archive →Wallingford and its neighbors
Wallingford is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Wallingford | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| North Haven | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 153 |
| Cheshire | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| North Branford | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Hamden | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 404 |
| Meriden | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 182 |
| Wallingford Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Northford | — | 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 Wallingford 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 Wallingford
Is Wallingford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wallingford has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #54 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and hurricanes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wallingford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 104 claims in Wallingford since 1978, $979K in all, or 5.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Elsa (2).
Is Wallingford 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, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wallingford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wallingford’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 Wallingford?
By FEMA money that reached Wallingford, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds (2018): $1.3M to the Town of Wallingford for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Elsa: 2 paid, $15K.
Is Wallingford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Wallingford’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wallingford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wallingford’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.