Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Willington 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, Willington gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #44 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1994.
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 Willington 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 Willington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Willington, and Willington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #44 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Willington’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Connecticut town has higher expected damage than 62% of U.S. towns; within the state, Willington has less expected damage per building than 72% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Willington: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Willington flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Willington, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $2K
Willington 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Willington
Disasters that paid out in Willington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Willington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$12K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$37K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$43K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$142K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$44K to the Town of Willington for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
Show all 12
- 2011Snowstorm$22K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2006Snow$18K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$83K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$17K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2003Snow$20K to the Town of Willington for repairs
- 2003Snow$13K to the Town of Willington for repairs
Old photos of Willington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Willington archive →Willington and its neighbors
Willington is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mansfield | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Tolland | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Ellington | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Willington | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Ashford | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Stafford | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Crystal Lake | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Stafford Springs | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Union | — | 944 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Willington 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 Willington
Is Willington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Willington has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #44 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (6%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Willington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Willington since 1994, $11K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Willington 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 Willington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Willington’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 Willington?
By FEMA money that reached Willington, Severe Storm (2011): $142K to the Town of Willington for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Willington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Willington’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Willington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Willington’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.