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Chester Hunt Law Office, Windham, ConnecticutPhoto: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Windham · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Windham faces more hazard damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windham gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #146 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2005.

River and rain flooding 79%Hurricanes 17%Earthquakes 2%

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

more than 82%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#146 of 155 in Connecticut
Hazard risk
C−#146 of 155
in Connecticut · higher than 82% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
79% of expected building damage
Flood claims
2
paid since 2005 · $243K
By hazard

What Windham 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

79%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

17%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 6 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Ice storms Strong wind Hail Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Windham’s grade

River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Windham, and Windham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 17% (higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Windham sits
Windham
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #146 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Windham’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding79%Hurricanes17%Everything else4%

The typical Connecticut town has higher expected damage than 62% of U.S. towns; within the state, Windham has more expected damage per building than 94% of Connecticut towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.1M a year in losses across Windham: $8.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Windham covers 6 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Windham flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2005

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Windham, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2005: 1 claim2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims20052021
20052026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Elsa1 claim · $210K
2
paid claims since 2005
$243K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$122K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Windham 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.
Disasters

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Windham

Disasters that paid out in Windham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Windham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$87K to the Town of Windham for repairs
  2. 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$56K to the Town of Windham for repairs
  3. 2012Hurricane Sandy$39K to the Town of Windham for repairs
  4. 2011Severe Storm$5K to the Town of Windham for repairs
  5. 2011Tropical Storm Irene$35K to the Town of Windham for repairs
  6. 2006Snow$44K to the Town of Windham for repairs
Show all 10
  1. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Windham for repairs
  2. 2005Record Snow$39K to the Town of Windham for repairs
  3. 2003Snow$34K to the Town of Windham for repairs
  4. 2003Snow$24K to the Town of Windham for repairs
Were you here?

Old photos of Windham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Windham archive →
Next door

Windham and its neighbors

Windham is 8th of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Mansfield: hazard risk B+Willimantic: not gradedCoventry: hazard risk BLebanon: hazard risk BSouth Windham: not gradedFranklin: hazard risk B−Columbia: hazard risk BScotland: hazard risk C+Mansfield Center: not gradedChaplin: hazard risk C−MansfieldWillimanticCoventryLebanonSouth WindhamFranklinColumbiaScotlandMansfield CenterChaplinWindham
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
MansfieldB+less damage than 73%river and rain flooding37
ColumbiaBless damage than 61%river and rain flooding8
LebanonBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding2
CoventryBless damage than 55%river and rain flooding7
FranklinB−less damage than 54%river and rain flooding7
ScotlandC+more damage than 61%river and rain flooding—
ChaplinC−more damage than 77%river and rain flooding6
WindhamC−more damage than 82%river and rain flooding2
Willimantic—a Census area inside a town; graded with the town
South Windham—a Census area inside a town; graded with the town
Mansfield Center—785 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Windham faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Windham

Is Windham at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windham has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #146 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Windham flood?

Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Windham since 2005, $243K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Elsa (1).

Is Windham 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, 61% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.6% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Windham?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Windham’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 Windham?

By FEMA money that reached Windham, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2015): $87K to the Town of Windham for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Elsa: 1 paid, $210K.

Is Windham at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Windham’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Windham.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Windham’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.