West Haven Green Historic District · Photo: The original uploader was Polaron at English Wikipedia. · CC BY 2.5FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in West Haven as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Haven gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #35 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%), then hurricanes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 392 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 West Haven’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What West Haven 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
Earthquakes
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 West Haven’s grade
River and rain flooding is 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in West Haven, and West Haven’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #35 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
West Haven’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, West Haven has less expected damage per building than 78% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.9M a year in losses across West Haven: $9.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does West Haven flood? Yes: 392 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in West Haven, from FEMA’s records: 17.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy89 claims · $2.0M
- Hurricane Irene64 claims · $1.2M
West Haven 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to West Haven
Disasters that paid out in West Haven itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of West Haven), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides14 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida30 households applied for aid$166K aid approved9 flood claims paid for it, $212K
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$151K to the City of West Haven for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$280K to the City of West Haven for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy333 households applied for aid$308K aid approved$1.6M to the City of West Haven for repairs89 flood claims paid for it, $2.0M
- 2011Severe Storm$30K to the City of West Haven for repairs
Show all 14
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene208 households applied for aid$210K aid approved$1.8M to the City of West Haven for repairs64 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
- 2011Snowstorm$88K to the City of West Haven for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding36 households applied for aid$39K aid approved8 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding18 households applied for aid$18K aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Snow$73K to the City of West Haven for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$87K to the City of West Haven for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$65K to the City of West Haven for repairs
- 2003Snow$58K to the City of West Haven for repairs
Old photos of West Haven after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the West Haven archive →West Haven and its neighbors
West Haven is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodmont | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| West Haven | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 392 |
| Orange | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 129 |
| New Haven | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 313 |
| Milford | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 2,701 |
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 West Haven 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 West Haven
Is West Haven at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Haven has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #35 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%) and hurricanes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does West Haven flood?
Flood insurance has paid 392 claims in West Haven since 1978, $5.1M in all, or 17.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 66 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (89).
Is West Haven 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 West Haven?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for West Haven’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 West Haven?
By FEMA money that reached West Haven, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): 208 households applied for aid, $210K approved, and $1.8M to the City of West Haven for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 89 paid, $2.0M.
Is West Haven at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and West Haven’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in West Haven.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where West Haven’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.