Glocester Town Pound · Photo: Swampyank at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Glocester faces less hazard damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glocester gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #12 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1983.
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 Glocester 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 Glocester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Glocester, and Glocester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
A #12 of 38 in Rhode Island; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Glocester’s residents live in 2 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, Glocester has less expected damage per building than 70% of Rhode Island towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Glocester: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Glocester flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Glocester, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $4K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $2K
Glocester 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Glocester
Disasters that paid out in Glocester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Glocester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$55K to the Town of Glocester for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Town of Glocester for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of Glocester for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$47K to the Town of Glocester for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $2K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$101K to the Town of Glocester for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$32K to the Town of Glocester for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
- 2003Snow$32K to the Town of Glocester 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 Glocester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Glocester archive →Glocester and its neighbors
Glocester has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glocester | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Foster | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Scituate | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Smithfield | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Burrillville | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Killingly | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Pascoag | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Harmony | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Greenville | — | 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 Glocester 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 Glocester
Is Glocester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glocester has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #12 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Glocester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Glocester since 1983, $29K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (2).
Is Glocester 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 Glocester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Glocester’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 Glocester?
By FEMA money that reached Glocester, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 3 households applied for aid, $4K approved, and $101K to the Town of Glocester for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $4K.
Is Glocester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Glocester’s rate for it is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Glocester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Glocester’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.