Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Westerly faces less hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westerly gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #25 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then coastal flooding (10%). Flood insurance has paid 704 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 Westerly’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Westerly 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
Coastal 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 Westerly’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Westerly, and Westerly’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 10%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #25 of 38 in Rhode Island; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Westerly’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, Westerly has more expected damage per building than 65% of Rhode Island towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Westerly: $6.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Westerly flood? Yes: 704 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Westerly, from FEMA’s records: 53.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy341 claims · $19.6M
- The March 2010 nor’easter89 claims · $3.9M
- Hurricane Bob62 claims · $1.2M
Westerly is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Washington County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Westerly
Disasters that paid out in Westerly itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Westerly), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$93K to the Town of Westerly for repairs
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding7 households applied for aid$6K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$103K to the Town of Westerly for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$117K to the Town of Westerly for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$146K to the Town of Westerly for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy226 households applied for aid$199K aid approved$2.0M to the Town of Westerly for repairs341 flood claims paid for it, $19.6M
Show all 10
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$109K to the Town of Westerly for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $934K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding859 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$441K to the Town of Westerly for repairs91 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$86K to the Town of Westerly for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$29K to the Town of Westerly for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Washington County has had 17 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Washington County, 2023–2023.
Old photos of Westerly after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Westerly archive →Westerly and its neighbors
Westerly is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southold | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 850 |
| Westerly | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 704 |
| Charlestown | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 184 |
| Hopkinton | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| North Stonington | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Stonington | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Bradford | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Pawcatuck | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Ashaway | — | 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 Westerly 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Westerly residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Westerly
Is Westerly at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westerly has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #25 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and coastal flooding (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Westerly flood?
Flood insurance has paid 704 claims in Westerly since 1978, $28.1M in all, or 53.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 51 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (341).
Is Westerly 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 Washington County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 6.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Westerly?
Westerly is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Westerly?
By FEMA money that reached Westerly, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 226 households applied for aid, $199K approved, and $2.0M to the Town of Westerly for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 341 paid, $19.6M.
Is Westerly at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Westerly’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Westerly.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Westerly’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.