Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Brattleboro as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brattleboro gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #52 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 50 claims here since 2005.
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 Brattleboro’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Brattleboro 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
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 Brattleboro’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brattleboro, and Brattleboro’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #52 of 71 in Vermont; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brattleboro’s residents live in 3 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, Brattleboro has more expected damage per building than 73% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.7M a year in losses across Brattleboro: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brattleboro flood? Sometimes: 50 flood claims since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brattleboro, from FEMA’s records: 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene45 claims · $2.3M
Brattleboro is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Windham County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brattleboro
Disasters that paid out in Brattleboro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Brattleboro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$235K to the Town of Brattleboro for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides25 households applied for aid$53K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene319 households applied for aid$665K aid approved$1.5M to the Town of Brattleboro for repairs45 flood claims paid for it, $2.3M
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$9K to the Town of Brattleboro for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$31K to the Town of Brattleboro for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$66K to the Town of Brattleboro for repairs
Show all 9
- 2001Snow$22K to the Town of Brattleboro for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$34K to the Town of Brattleboro for repairs
- 1999Tropical Storm Floyd$8K to the Town of Brattleboro for repairs
Windham County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Brattleboro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brattleboro archive →Brattleboro and its neighbors
Brattleboro is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlboro | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Guilford | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Vernon | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Brattleboro | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Chesterfield | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Dummerston | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hinsdale | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Brattleboro 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.
- 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.
- Brattleboro residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Brattleboro
Is Brattleboro at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brattleboro has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #52 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brattleboro flood?
Flood insurance has paid 50 claims in Brattleboro since 2005, $2.3M in all, or 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (45).
Is Brattleboro 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 Windham County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brattleboro?
Brattleboro is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% 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 Brattleboro?
By FEMA money that reached Brattleboro, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): 319 households applied for aid, $665K approved, and $1.5M to the Town of Brattleboro for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 45 paid, $2.3M.
Is Brattleboro at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Brattleboro’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brattleboro.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brattleboro’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.