Photo: Hayden Soloviev · CC BY 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Waterbury than in 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waterbury gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #130 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 66 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 Waterbury 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 Waterbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Waterbury, and Waterbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 16% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #130 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Waterbury’s residents live in 28 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, Waterbury has more expected damage per building than 84% of Connecticut towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Waterbury has higher expected damage per building than 70% (#281 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $32.2M, is the 344th largest of those 400.
Does Waterbury flood? Sometimes: 66 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Waterbury, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida6 claims · $664K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $16K
Waterbury 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.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Waterbury
Disasters that paid out in Waterbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Waterbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides72 households applied for aid$170K aid approved
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida43 households applied for aid$54K aid approved6 flood claims paid for it, $664K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$223K to the City of Waterbury for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$224K to the City of Waterbury for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$483K to the City of Waterbury for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy84 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$124K to the City of Waterbury for repairs
Show all 13
- 2011Severe Storm$367K to the City of Waterbury for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene263 households applied for aid$360K aid approved$389K to the City of Waterbury for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $16K
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding78 households applied for aid$85K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Snow$207K to the City of Waterbury for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$162K to the City of Waterbury for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$151K to the City of Waterbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$161K to the City of Waterbury for repairs
Old photos of Waterbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Waterbury archive →Waterbury and its neighbors
Waterbury is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prospect | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Middlebury | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Wolcott | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Watertown | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Cheshire | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Plymouth | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Waterbury | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
| Naugatuck | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Oakville | — | 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 Waterbury 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 Waterbury
Is Waterbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waterbury has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #130 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Waterbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 66 claims in Waterbury since 1978, $1.7M in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (6).
Is Waterbury 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, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Waterbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Waterbury’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 Waterbury?
By FEMA money that reached Waterbury, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): 263 households applied for aid, $360K approved, and $389K to the City of Waterbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 6 paid, $664K.
Is Waterbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Waterbury’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Waterbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Waterbury’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.