Photo: Brian McGuirk · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Barrington than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barrington gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #26 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then coastal flooding (16%). Flood insurance has paid 314 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 Barrington’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Barrington 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
Coastal 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 Barrington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barrington, and Barrington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 16%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #26 of 38 in Rhode Island; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Barrington’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Rhode Island town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Barrington has more expected damage per building than 68% of Rhode Island towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across Barrington: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Barrington flood? Yes: 314 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Barrington, from FEMA’s records: 48.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter136 claims · $695K
- Hurricane Sandy21 claims · $463K
- Hurricane Bob18 claims · $114K
Barrington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bristol County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Barrington
Disasters that paid out in Barrington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Barrington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$68K to the Town of Barrington for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$46K to the Town of Barrington for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$76K to the Town of Barrington for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$80K to the Town of Barrington for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $463K
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$310K to the Town of Barrington for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $27K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding685 households applied for aid$602K aid approved$119K to the Town of Barrington for repairs141 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2005Record Snow$33K to the Town of Barrington for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
Bristol County has had 14 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 Barrington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Barrington archive →Barrington and its neighbors
Barrington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 145 |
| Portsmouth | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 138 |
| East Providence | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 85 |
| Warren | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| Warwick | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 616 |
| Barrington | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 314 |
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 Barrington 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Barrington
Is Barrington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barrington has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #26 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and coastal flooding (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Barrington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 314 claims in Barrington since 1978, $2.1M in all, or 48.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (136).
Is Barrington 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 Bristol County, 51% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 8.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Barrington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barrington’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 Barrington?
By FEMA money that reached Barrington, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 685 households applied for aid, $602K approved, and $119K to the Town of Barrington for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 136 paid, $695K.
Is Barrington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Barrington’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barrington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barrington’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.