Photo: Jared C. Benedict (Redjar at en.wikipedia); cropped by Beyond My Ken 21:17, 16 April 2012 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Marlboro 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, Marlboro gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2011.
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 Marlboro 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 Marlboro’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marlboro, and Marlboro’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Marlboro’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $536K a year in losses across Marlboro: $377K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marlboro flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Marlboro, from FEMA’s records: 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $57K
Marlboro isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Windham County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Marlboro
Disasters that paid out in Marlboro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Marlboro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$30K to the Town of Marlboro for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$191K to the Town of Marlboro for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene54 households applied for aid$170K aid approved$887K to the Town of Marlboro for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $57K
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$107K to the Town of Marlboro for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$97K to the Town of Marlboro for repairs
- 2001Snow$2K to the Town of Marlboro for repairs
Windham County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Marlboro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Marlboro archive →Marlboro and its neighbors
Marlboro is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Marlboro | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Brattleboro | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Dummerston | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Halifax | — | 847 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Marlboro 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Marlboro
Is Marlboro at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marlboro has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (7%). 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 Marlboro flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Marlboro since 2011, $57K in all, or 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (2).
Is Marlboro 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 Marlboro?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marlboro’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 Marlboro?
By FEMA money that reached Marlboro, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): 54 households applied for aid, $170K approved, and $887K to the Town of Marlboro for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 2 paid, $57K.
Is Marlboro at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Marlboro’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marlboro.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marlboro’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.