Photo: LibertyNALE · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Waterford 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, Waterford gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #51 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%), then hurricanes (31%). Flood insurance has paid 88 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 Waterford 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 Waterford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Waterford, and Waterford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #51 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Waterford’s residents live in 5 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, Waterford has less expected damage per building than 68% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.7M a year in losses across Waterford: $5.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Waterford flood? Sometimes: 88 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Waterford, from FEMA’s records: 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy28 claims · $868K
- The March 2010 nor’easter14 claims · $79K
Waterford 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Waterford
Disasters that paid out in Waterford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Waterford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$33K to the Town of Waterford for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$141K to the Town of Waterford for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$151K to the Town of Waterford for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$272K to the Town of Waterford for repairs28 flood claims paid for it, $868K
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$313K to the Town of Waterford for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $33K
- 2011Snowstorm$94K to the Town of Waterford for repairs
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$1.0M to the Town of Waterford for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$25K to the Town of Waterford for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$58K to the Town of Waterford for repairs
- 2003Snow$45K to the Town of Waterford for repairs
- 2003Snow$34K to the Town of Waterford for repairs
Old photos of Waterford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Waterford archive →Waterford and its neighbors
Waterford is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ledyard | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Groton | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 105 |
| New London | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 139 |
| Waterford | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 88 |
| Montville | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| East Lyme | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 195 |
| Niantic | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Conning Towers-Nautilus Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Gales Ferry | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Oxoboxo River | — | 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 Waterford 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 Waterford
Is Waterford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waterford has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #51 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (63%) and hurricanes (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Waterford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 88 claims in Waterford since 1978, $1.5M in all, or 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (28).
Is Waterford 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, 61% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Waterford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Waterford’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 Waterford?
By FEMA money that reached Waterford, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): $1.0M to the Town of Waterford for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 28 paid, $868K.
Is Waterford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Waterford’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Waterford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Waterford’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.