Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Fayston 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, Fayston gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2024.
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 Fayston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fayston 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 Fayston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fayston, and Fayston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
B− lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Fayston’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $617K a year in losses across Fayston: $532K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fayston flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2024
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fayston, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Fayston 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fayston
Disasters that paid out in Fayston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Fayston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$3.5M to the Town of Fayston for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$11K to the Town of Fayston for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$28K to the Town of Fayston for repairs
Washington County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Fayston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fayston archive →Fayston and its neighbors
Fayston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Fayston | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Waitsfield | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Lincoln | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Duxbury | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Moretown | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
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 Fayston 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 Fayston
Is Fayston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fayston has lower expected damage per building than 51% 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 Fayston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Fayston since 2024, $2K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Fayston 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 Fayston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fayston’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 Fayston?
By FEMA money that reached Fayston, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 1 households applied for aid, $3K approved, and $3.5M to the Town of Fayston for repairs.
Is Fayston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Fayston’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fayston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fayston’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.