Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Burrillville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burrillville gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1979.
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 Burrillville 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 Burrillville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Burrillville, and Burrillville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #38 of 38 in Rhode Island; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Burrillville’s residents live in 3 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, Burrillville has more expected damage per building than 100% of Rhode Island towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Burrillville: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Burrillville flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Burrillville, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter3 claims · $23K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $12K
Burrillville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Providence County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Burrillville
Disasters that paid out in Burrillville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Burrillville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding4 households applied for aid$49K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$71K to the Town of Burrillville for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$63K to the Town of Burrillville for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$53K to the Town of Burrillville for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$88K to the Town of Burrillville for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$32K to the Town of Burrillville for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$34K to the Town of Burrillville for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$22K to the Town of Burrillville for repairs
Providence County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Burrillville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Burrillville archive →Burrillville and its neighbors
Burrillville is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glocester | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Douglas | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| North Smithfield | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Burrillville | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Thompson | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Pascoag | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Burrillville 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 Burrillville
Is Burrillville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burrillville has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Burrillville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Burrillville since 1979, $130K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (3).
Is Burrillville 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 Providence County, 58% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Burrillville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Burrillville’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 Burrillville?
By FEMA money that reached Burrillville, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): $88K to the Town of Burrillville for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 3 paid, $23K.
Is Burrillville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Burrillville’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Burrillville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Burrillville’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.