Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Granville faces more hazard damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Granville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2011.
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 Granville 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 Granville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Granville, and Granville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
C higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Granville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $506K a year in losses across Granville: $456K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Granville flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Granville, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Granville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hampden County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Granville
Disasters that paid out in Granville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Granville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$15K to the Town of Granville for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Granville for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$19K to the Town of Granville for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Granville for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$88K to the Town of Granville for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$101K to the Town of Granville for repairs
Show all 9
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$9K to the Town of Granville for repairs
- 2003Snow$4K to the Town of Granville for repairs
- 2003Snow$4K to the Town of Granville for repairs
Hampden County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Granville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Granville archive →Granville and its neighbors
Granville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartland | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Southwick | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Russell | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Granville | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Blandford | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Westfield | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Tolland | — | 540 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 Granville 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 Granville
Is Granville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Granville has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (10%). 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 Granville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Granville since 2011, $3K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Granville 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 Hampden County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Granville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Granville’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 Granville?
By FEMA money that reached Granville, Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding (2007): $101K to the Town of Granville for repairs.
Is Granville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Granville’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Granville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Granville’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.