Photo: Mfwills · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Essex Junction faces less hazard damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Essex Junction gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #19 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Essex Junction 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 Essex Junction’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Essex Junction, and Essex Junction’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #19 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Essex Junction’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, Essex Junction has less expected damage per building than 74% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Essex Junction: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Essex Junction flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Essex Junction. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Essex Junction 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Essex Junction
Disasters that paid out in Essex Junction itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Essex Junction), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides4 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides16 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding38 households applied for aid$49K aid approved
- 2010Severe Storm$1K to the City of Essex Junction for repairs
Chittenden County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Essex Junction after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Essex Junction archive →Essex Junction and its neighbors
Essex Junction is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Burlington | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Williston | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Essex | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Essex Junction | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
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 Essex Junction 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 Essex Junction
Is Essex Junction at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Essex Junction has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #19 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Essex Junction 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 Essex Junction?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Essex Junction’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 Essex Junction?
By FEMA money that reached Essex Junction, Severe Storms and Flooding (2011): 38 households applied for aid, $49K approved.
Is Essex Junction at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Essex Junction’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Essex Junction.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Essex Junction’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.