Schoolhouse No. 5 · Photo: Vonsky87 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Hamden’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hamden gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1996.
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 Hamden 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
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 Hamden’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hamden, and Hamden’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hamden’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $918K a year in losses across Hamden: $807K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hamden flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hamden, from FEMA’s records: 9.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $13K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $6K
Hamden isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hamden
Disasters that paid out in Hamden itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hamden), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Remnants of Tropical Storm Debby$295K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$110K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$16K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$32K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$49K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene2 households applied for aid$9K to the Town of Hamden for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $13K
Show all 15
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$59K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$45K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$136K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding56 households applied for aid$90K aid approved$1.1M to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$103K to the Town of Hamden for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan5 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$24K to the Town of Hamden for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes1 households applied for aid$2K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2003Snow$4K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$9K to the Town of Hamden for repairs
Delaware County has had 30 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Hamden after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hamden archive →Hamden and its neighbors
Hamden is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andes | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Hamden | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Delhi | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Franklin | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Walton | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Colchester | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 100 |
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 Hamden 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.
- 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 Hamden
Is Hamden at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hamden has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Hamden flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Hamden since 1996, $76K in all, or 9.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Hamden 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 Delaware County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hamden?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hamden’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 Hamden?
By FEMA money that reached Hamden, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 56 households applied for aid, $90K approved, and $1.1M to the Town of Hamden for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $13K.
Is Hamden at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Hamden’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hamden.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hamden’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.