Photo: Robot psychiatrist · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Bolton faces less hazard damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bolton gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1992.
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 Bolton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bolton 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 Bolton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bolton, and Bolton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Bolton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $477K a year in losses across Bolton: $332K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bolton flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1992
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bolton, from FEMA’s records: 20.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Vermont/New York Flooding5 claims · $177K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $114K
- The December nor’easter2 claims · $124K
Bolton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chittenden County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bolton
Disasters that paid out in Bolton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bolton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides4 households applied for aid$69K aid approved$933K to the Town of Bolton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$44K aid approved$298K to the Town of Bolton for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$203K to the Town of Bolton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Storm and Flooding$81K to the Town of Bolton for repairs
- 2015Severe Storm and Flooding$201K to the Town of Bolton for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$26K to the Town of Bolton for repairs
Show all 9
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene3 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$106K to the Town of Bolton for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $114K
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$37K to the Town of Bolton for repairs
- 2001Snow$7K to the Town of Bolton for repairs
Chittenden County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Bolton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bolton archive →Bolton and its neighbors
Bolton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jericho | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Bolton | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Waterbury | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Duxbury | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Richmond | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Huntington | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Bolton 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 Bolton
Is Bolton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bolton has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). 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 Bolton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Bolton since 1992, $564K in all, or 20.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Vermont/New York Flooding (5).
Is Bolton 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 Chittenden County, 35% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bolton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bolton’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 Bolton?
By FEMA money that reached Bolton, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 4 households applied for aid, $69K approved, and $933K to the Town of Bolton for repairs. By flood claims, Vermont/New York Flooding: 5 paid, $177K.
Is Bolton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Bolton’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bolton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bolton’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.