Photo: Juliancolton · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Tiverton than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tiverton gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #11 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 58 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 Tiverton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Tiverton 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
Coastal flooding
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 Tiverton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tiverton, and Tiverton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 6%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A #11 of 38 in Rhode Island; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tiverton’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, Tiverton has less expected damage per building than 73% of Rhode Island towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Tiverton: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tiverton flood? Sometimes: 58 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tiverton, from FEMA’s records: 7.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Bob29 claims · $279K
- Hurricane Sandy5 claims · $145K
- The March 2010 nor’easter3 claims · $15K
Tiverton 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tiverton
Disasters that paid out in Tiverton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Tiverton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$54K to the Town of Tiverton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$52K to the Town of Tiverton for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$66K to the Town of Tiverton for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy9 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$64K to the Town of Tiverton for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $145K
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$51K to the Town of Tiverton for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding265 households applied for aid$243K aid approved$87K to the Town of Tiverton for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$2K to the Town of Tiverton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$39K to the Town of Tiverton for repairs
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 Tiverton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tiverton archive →Tiverton and its neighbors
Tiverton is 4th 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 |
| 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 |
| Fall River | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
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 Tiverton 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.
- 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.
- 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 Tiverton
Is Tiverton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tiverton has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #11 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tiverton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 58 claims in Tiverton since 1978, $516K in all, or 7.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Bob (29).
Is Tiverton 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 Tiverton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tiverton’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 Tiverton?
By FEMA money that reached Tiverton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 265 households applied for aid, $243K approved, and $87K to the Town of Tiverton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Bob: 29 paid, $279K.
Is Tiverton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Tiverton’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tiverton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tiverton’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.