Photo: Maximilian Schönherr · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Berlin faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berlin gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #51 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 57 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 Berlin’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Berlin 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 Berlin’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Berlin, and Berlin’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #51 of 71 in Vermont; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Berlin’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Berlin has more expected damage per building than 71% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Berlin: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Berlin flood? Sometimes: 57 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Berlin, from FEMA’s records: 44.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Vermont/New York Flooding24 claims · $3.9M
- Hurricane Irene11 claims · $754K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $9K
Berlin is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Washington County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Berlin
Disasters that paid out in Berlin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Berlin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$68K to the Town of Berlin for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides69 households applied for aid$360K aid approved$2.4M to the Town of Berlin for repairs25 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene55 households applied for aid$848K aid approved$448K to the Town of Berlin for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $754K
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$576K to the Town of Berlin for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$159K to the Town of Berlin for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$11K to the Town of Berlin for repairs1 flood claim 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 Berlin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Berlin archive →Berlin and its neighbors
Berlin is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Montpelier | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Williamstown | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Middlesex | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Berlin | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Northfield | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Montpelier | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 283 |
| Moretown | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Barre | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 299 |
| Barre | — | not graded yet | |
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 Berlin 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.
- Berlin 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 Berlin
Is Berlin at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berlin has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #51 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). 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 Berlin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 57 claims in Berlin since 1979, $5.9M in all, or 44.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Vermont/New York Flooding (24).
Is Berlin 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 Berlin?
Berlin 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 Berlin?
By FEMA money that reached Berlin, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2023): 69 households applied for aid, $360K approved, and $2.4M to the Town of Berlin for repairs. By flood claims, Vermont/New York Flooding: 24 paid, $3.9M.
Is Berlin at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Berlin’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Berlin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Berlin’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.