Less hazard damage per building is expected in Windsor than in 60% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windsor gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 30 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 stands out about Windsor’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
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 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Windsor, and Windsor’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 15% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Windsor’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $337K a year in losses across Windsor: $256K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Windsor flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Windsor, from FEMA’s records: 56.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee8 claims · $89K
- Hurricane Sandy1 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: York County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Windsor
Disasters that paid out in Windsor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Windsor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida23 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee78 households applied for aid$116K aid approved8 flood claims paid for it, $89K
York County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
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 →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 lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (15%). 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 Windsor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Windsor since 1978, $280K in all, or 56.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (8).
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 York County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% 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, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 78 households applied for aid, $116K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 8 paid, $89K.
Is Windsor at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Windsor’s rate for it is higher than 57% 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.