Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Johnston’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Johnston gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #28 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 94 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 stands out about Johnston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Johnston 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 Johnston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Johnston, and Johnston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B #28 of 38 in Rhode Island; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Johnston’s residents live in 5 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, Johnston has more expected damage per building than 73% of Rhode Island towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.9M a year in losses across Johnston: $5.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Johnston flood? Sometimes: 94 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Johnston, from FEMA’s records: 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter20 claims · $929K
- The December nor’easter3 claims · $34K
Johnston 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Johnston
Disasters that paid out in Johnston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Johnston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding239 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding125 households applied for aid$501K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes103 households applied for aid$414K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$94K to the Town of Johnston for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$105K to the Town of Johnston for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$112K to the Town of Johnston for repairs
Show all 10
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$311K to the Town of Johnston for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding990 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$1.1M to the Town of Johnston for repairs21 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$93K to the Town of Johnston for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$62K to the Town of Johnston 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 Johnston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Johnston archive →Johnston and its neighbors
Johnston is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scituate | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Smithfield | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Johnston | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 94 |
| Providence | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 289 |
| Cranston | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 438 |
| North Providence | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| 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 Johnston 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 Johnston
Is Johnston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Johnston has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #28 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Johnston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 94 claims in Johnston since 1979, $5.1M in all, or 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (20).
Is Johnston 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 Johnston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Johnston’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 Johnston?
By FEMA money that reached Johnston, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 990 households applied for aid, $1.4M approved, and $1.1M to the Town of Johnston for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 20 paid, $929K.
Is Johnston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Johnston’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Johnston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Johnston’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.