Bennington Village Historic District · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Bennington than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bennington gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1986.
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 Bennington 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 Bennington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bennington, and Bennington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Bennington’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $479K a year in losses across Bennington: $421K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bennington flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bennington, from FEMA’s records: 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bennington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hillsborough County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bennington
Disasters that paid out in Bennington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bennington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Town of Bennington for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Bennington for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$6K to the Town of Bennington for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$1K to the Town of Bennington for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$4K to the Town of Bennington for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$2K to the Town of Bennington for repairs
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$19K to the Town of Bennington for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$29K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Hillsborough County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bennington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bennington archive →Bennington and its neighbors
Bennington is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hancock | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Antrim | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Francestown | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Deering | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Bennington | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
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 Bennington 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 Bennington
Is Bennington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bennington has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (11%). 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 Bennington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Bennington since 1986, $177K in all, or 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Bennington 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 Hillsborough County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bennington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bennington’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 Bennington?
By FEMA money that reached Bennington, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 4 households applied for aid, $29K approved.
Is Bennington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Bennington’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bennington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bennington’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.