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The Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot CTPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0
CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Washington · FEMA

FEMA puts Washington’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #121 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 2005.

River and rain flooding 83%Hurricanes 12%Earthquakes 2%

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

more than 75%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#121 of 155 in Connecticut
Hazard risk
C#121 of 155
in Connecticut · higher than 75% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
83% of expected building damage
Flood claims
8
paid since 2005 · $204K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
By hazard

What Washington 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

83%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

12%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 8 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Ice storms Strong wind Hail Wildfire Landslides top 4% Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Washington’s grade

River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Washington, and Washington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Washington sits
Washington
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C #121 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Washington’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding83%Hurricanes12%Everything else6%

The typical Connecticut town has higher expected damage than 62% of U.S. towns; within the state, Washington has more expected damage per building than 78% of Connecticut towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Washington: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Washington’s 3,646 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract, which it shares with New Preston CDP (1,126 residents). FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s, the same for all of them. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Washington flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 2005

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Washington, from FEMA’s records: 4.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2005: 2 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 5 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 1 claim2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200520112023
20052026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene4 claims · $166K
8
paid claims since 2005
$204K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$25K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Washington 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.
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Washington

Disasters that paid out in Washington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Washington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$161K to the Town of Washington for repairs
  2. 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Town of Washington for repairs
  3. 2012Hurricane Sandy$40K to the Town of Washington for repairs
  4. 2011Severe Storm$122K to the Town of Washington for repairs
  5. 2011Tropical Storm Irene$216K to the Town of Washington for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $166K
  6. 2011Snowstorm$23K to the Town of Washington for repairs
Show all 9
  1. 2005Record Snow$37K to the Town of Washington for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2003Snow$26K to the Town of Washington for repairs
  3. 2003Snow$22K to the Town of Washington for repairs
Were you here?

Old photos of Washington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Washington archive →
Next door

Washington and its neighbors

Washington is 6th of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

New Milford: hazard risk DBethlehem: hazard risk BNew Preston: not gradedRoxbury: hazard risk CWarren: hazard risk B−Morris: hazard risk B−Kent: hazard risk DLitchfield: hazard risk C+Woodbury: hazard risk C−New MilfordBethlehemNew PrestonRoxburyWarrenMorrisKentLitchfieldWoodburyWashington
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
BethlehemBless damage than 61%river and rain flooding1
WarrenB−less damage than 50%river and rain flooding4
MorrisB−more damage than 53%river and rain flooding7
LitchfieldC+more damage than 56%river and rain flooding9
RoxburyCmore damage than 71%river and rain flooding4
WashingtonCmore damage than 75%river and rain flooding8
WoodburyC−more damage than 79%river and rain flooding15
KentDmore damage than 86%river and rain flooding18
New MilfordDmore damage than 86%river and rain flooding108
New Preston—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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Washington faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Washington

Is Washington at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #121 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (12%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Washington flood?

Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Washington since 2005, $204K in all, or 4.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (4).

Is Washington 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, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Washington?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Washington’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 Washington?

By FEMA money that reached Washington, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): $216K to the Town of Washington for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 4 paid, $166K.

Is Washington at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Washington’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Washington.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Washington’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.