Photo: Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 3.0Westbrook’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westbrook gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #60 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then coastal flooding (23%). Flood insurance has paid 398 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 Westbrook’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Westbrook 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
Coastal 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 Westbrook’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Westbrook, and Westbrook’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 23%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #60 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Westbrook’s residents live in 2 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, Westbrook has less expected damage per building than 62% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Westbrook: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Westbrook flood? Yes: 398 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Westbrook, from FEMA’s records: 94.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy133 claims · $4.5M
- Hurricane Irene98 claims · $3.2M
- Hurricane Gloria45 claims · $268K
Westbrook 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Westbrook
Disasters that paid out in Westbrook itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Westbrook), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$151K to the Town of Westbrook for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$44K to the Town of Westbrook for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$203K to the Town of Westbrook for repairs133 flood claims paid for it, $4.5M
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$264K to the Town of Westbrook for repairs98 flood claims paid for it, $3.2M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$15K to the Town of Westbrook for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$14K to the Town of Westbrook for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2003Snow$9K to the Town of Westbrook for repairs
Old photos of Westbrook after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Westbrook archive →Westbrook and its neighbors
Westbrook is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killingworth | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Old Saybrook | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 628 |
| Westbrook | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 398 |
| Essex | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| Deep River | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Clinton | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 345 |
| Westbrook Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Saybrook Manor | — | 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 Westbrook 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Westbrook
Is Westbrook at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westbrook has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #60 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and coastal flooding (23%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Westbrook flood?
Flood insurance has paid 398 claims in Westbrook since 1978, $8.5M in all, or 94.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 79 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (133).
Is Westbrook 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, 42% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Westbrook?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Westbrook’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 Westbrook?
By FEMA money that reached Westbrook, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): $264K to the Town of Westbrook for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 133 paid, $4.5M.
Is Westbrook at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Westbrook’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Westbrook.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Westbrook’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.