Photo: Daderot · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Wethersfield as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wethersfield gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #32 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 56 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 Wethersfield 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 Wethersfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wethersfield, and Wethersfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B #32 of 155 in Connecticut; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wethersfield’s residents live in 6 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, Wethersfield has less expected damage per building than 80% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.7M a year in losses across Wethersfield: $6.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wethersfield flood? Sometimes: 56 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wethersfield, from FEMA’s records: 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $40K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $6K
Wethersfield 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wethersfield
Disasters that paid out in Wethersfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wethersfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$506K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$188K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$826K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$114K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $40K
- 2011Snowstorm$86K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs
- 2006Snow$82K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$26K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$73K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$65K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$44K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs
Old photos of Wethersfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wethersfield archive →Wethersfield and its neighbors
Wethersfield has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wethersfield | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Newington | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Rocky Hill | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Glastonbury | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| East Hartford | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Hartford | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Glastonbury Center | — | 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 Wethersfield 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 Wethersfield
Is Wethersfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wethersfield has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #32 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wethersfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 56 claims in Wethersfield since 1978, $383K in all, or 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (3).
Is Wethersfield 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, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wethersfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wethersfield’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 Wethersfield?
By FEMA money that reached Wethersfield, Severe Storm (2011): $826K to the Town of Wethersfield for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 3 paid, $40K.
Is Wethersfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Wethersfield’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wethersfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wethersfield’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.