Photo: The original uploader was Swampyank at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Little Compton than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Compton gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #6 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1985.
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 Little Compton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Little Compton 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 Little Compton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Little Compton, and Little Compton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #6 of 38 in Rhode Island; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Little Compton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Rhode Island town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Little Compton has less expected damage per building than 86% of Rhode Island towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Little Compton: $869K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Little Compton flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Little Compton, from FEMA’s records: 10.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Bob19 claims · $257K
- Hurricane Sandy2 claims · $15K
Little Compton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Newport County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Little Compton
Disasters that paid out in Little Compton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Little Compton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding$135K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy6 households applied for aid$59K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $15K
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$79K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding26 households applied for aid$51K aid approved$9K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$14K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$15K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Newport County has had 16 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 Little Compton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Little Compton archive →Little Compton and its neighbors
Little Compton is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 138 |
| Little Compton | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Tiverton | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Westport | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 97 |
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 Little Compton 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 Little Compton
Is Little Compton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Compton has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #6 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) 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 Little Compton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Little Compton since 1985, $302K in all, or 10.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Bob (19).
Is Little Compton 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 Newport County, 45% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Little Compton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Little Compton’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 Little Compton?
By FEMA money that reached Little Compton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2024): $135K to the Town of Little Compton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Bob: 19 paid, $257K.
Is Little Compton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Little Compton’s rate for it is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Little Compton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Little Compton’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.