Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Windsor as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windsor gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #59 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 20 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 Windsor 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 Windsor’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Windsor, and Windsor’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #59 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Windsor’s residents live in 8 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, Windsor has less expected damage per building than 62% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.1M a year in losses across Windsor: $7.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Windsor flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Windsor, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $3K
Windsor 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Windsor
Disasters that paid out in Windsor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Windsor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$156K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$800K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$29K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2011Snowstorm$85K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2006Snow$62K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
Show all 9
- 2005Record Snow$57K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2003Snow$49K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
- 2003Snow$32K to the Town of Windsor for repairs
Old photos of Windsor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Windsor archive →Windsor and its neighbors
Windsor is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor Locks | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| East Windsor | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| East Granby | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| South Windsor | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Windsor | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Bloomfield | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Hartford | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Blue Hills | — | 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 Windsor 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 Windsor
Is Windsor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windsor has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #59 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 Windsor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Windsor since 1978, $112K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (1).
Is Windsor 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 Windsor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Windsor’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 Windsor?
By FEMA money that reached Windsor, Severe Storm (2011): $800K to the Town of Windsor for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $3K.
Is Windsor at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Windsor’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Windsor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Windsor’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.