Photo: Jerry Dougherty · CC BY 2.5On FEMA’s figures, Watertown 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, Watertown gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #57 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 65 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 Watertown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Watertown 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 Watertown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Watertown, and Watertown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 22% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #57 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Watertown’s residents live in 4 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, Watertown has less expected damage per building than 64% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.0M a year in losses across Watertown: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Watertown flood? Sometimes: 65 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Watertown, from FEMA’s records: 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene6 claims · $189K
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $574K
Watertown 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 Watertown
Disasters that paid out in Watertown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Watertown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$1.3M to the Town of Watertown for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$99K to the Town of Watertown for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $574K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$177K to the Town of Watertown for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$87K to the Town of Watertown for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$80K to the Town of Watertown for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$133K to the Town of Watertown for repairs
Show all 13
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$205K to the Town of Watertown for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $189K
- 2011Snowstorm$64K to the Town of Watertown for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$8K to the Town of Watertown for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Watertown for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$47K to the Town of Watertown for repairs
- 2003Snow$47K to the Town of Watertown for repairs
- 2003Snow$32K to the Town of Watertown for repairs
Old photos of Watertown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Watertown archive →Watertown and its neighbors
Watertown is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Middlebury | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Morris | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Watertown | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Waterbury | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
| Woodbury | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Thomaston | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| 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 Watertown 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 Watertown
Is Watertown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Watertown has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #57 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Watertown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 65 claims in Watertown since 1978, $1.5M in all, or 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (6).
Is Watertown 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 Watertown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Watertown’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 Watertown?
By FEMA money that reached Watertown, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): $1.3M to the Town of Watertown for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 6 paid, $189K.
Is Watertown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Watertown’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Watertown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Watertown’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.