Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Westport faces more hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westport gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #116 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then hurricanes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 1,547 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 Westport’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Westport 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
Coastal flooding
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 Westport’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Westport, and Westport’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 8%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C #116 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Westport’s residents live in 7 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, Westport has more expected damage per building than 75% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.4M a year in losses across Westport: $17.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Westport flood? Yes: 1,547 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Westport, from FEMA’s records: 149.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy440 claims · $27.6M
- The December Storm - nor’easter262 claims · $5.6M
- Hurricane Irene201 claims · $5.2M
Westport is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: the county.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Westport
Disasters that paid out in Westport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Westport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$22K to the Town of Westport for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$844K to the Town of Westport for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$206K to the Town of Westport for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$1.5M to the Town of Westport for repairs440 flood claims paid for it, $27.6M
- 2011Severe Storm$69K to the Town of Westport for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$570K to the Town of Westport for repairs201 flood claims paid for it, $5.2M
Show all 13
- 2011Snowstorm$122K to the Town of Westport for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$321K to the Town of Westport for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$82K to the Town of Westport for repairs85 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Snow$139K to the Town of Westport for repairs37 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$99K to the Town of Westport for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$104K to the Town of Westport for repairs
- 2003Snow$98K to the Town of Westport for repairs
Old photos of Westport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Westport archive →Westport and its neighbors
Westport is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 1,619 |
| Westport | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1,547 |
| Weston | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 78 |
| Fairfield | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 2,056 |
| Staples | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Greens Farms | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Southport | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Saugatuck | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Poplar Plains | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Coleytown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Old Hill | — | 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 Westport 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Westport residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Westport
Is Westport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westport has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #116 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and hurricanes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Westport flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,547 claims in Westport since 1978, $44.2M in all, or 149.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 230 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (440).
Is Westport 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, 57% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Westport?
Westport is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Westport?
By FEMA money that reached Westport, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $1.5M to the Town of Westport for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 440 paid, $27.6M.
Is Westport at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Westport’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Westport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Westport’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.