Photo: Ramiska · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Woodbury than in 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbury gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #137 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 15 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 Woodbury 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 Woodbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodbury, and Woodbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 15% (higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #137 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Woodbury’s residents live in 2 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, Woodbury has more expected damage per building than 88% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.8M a year in losses across Woodbury: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woodbury flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodbury, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $22K
Woodbury 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 Woodbury
Disasters that paid out in Woodbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Woodbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$467K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$147K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$37K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$47K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$136K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$69K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $22K
Show all 12
- 2011Snowstorm$34K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$31K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$18K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$16K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs
Old photos of Woodbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodbury archive →Woodbury and its neighbors
Woodbury is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Middlebury | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Watertown | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Southbury | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 103 |
| Roxbury | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Washington | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Woodbury | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
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 Woodbury 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 Woodbury
Is Woodbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbury has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #137 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Woodbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Woodbury since 1994, $137K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (4).
Is Woodbury 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, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Woodbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woodbury’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 Woodbury?
By FEMA money that reached Woodbury, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): $467K to the Town of Woodbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 4 paid, $22K.
Is Woodbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Woodbury’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodbury’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.