Socialist Labor Party Hall · Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Barre than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barre gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 299 claims here since 1980.
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 Barre’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Barre 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
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 Barre’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barre, and Barre’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D #71 of 71 in Vermont; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Barre’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Barre has more expected damage per building than 100% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Barre: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Barre flood? Yes: 299 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Barre, from FEMA’s records: 69.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Vermont/New York Flooding76 claims · $6.3M
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $30K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $15K
Barre isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Washington County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Barre
Disasters that paid out in Barre itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Barre), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides134 households applied for aid$476K aid approved$1.3M to the City of Barre for repairs49 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides930 households applied for aid$4.1M aid approved$4.3M to the City of Barre for repairs77 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$5K to the City of Barre for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene28 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$109K to the City of Barre for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $30K
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding261 households applied for aid$834K aid approved$2.3M to the City of Barre for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$67K to the City of Barre for repairs
Show all 7
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$420K to the City of Barre for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
Washington County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Barre after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Barre archive →Barre and its neighbors
Barre is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Barre | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 299 |
| Barre | — | not graded yet | |
| South Barre | — | 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 Barre 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.
- 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 Barre
Is Barre at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barre has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Barre flood?
Flood insurance has paid 299 claims in Barre since 1980, $13.2M in all, or 69.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 60 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Vermont/New York Flooding (76).
Is Barre 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, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Barre?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barre’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 Barre?
By FEMA money that reached Barre, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 930 households applied for aid, $4.1M approved, and $4.3M to the City of Barre for repairs. By flood claims, Vermont/New York Flooding: 76 paid, $6.3M.
Is Barre at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Barre’s rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barre.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barre’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.