Photo: Jd4508. Original uploader was Jd4508 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Middlebury than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middlebury gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #3 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1982.
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 Middlebury 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
Earthquakes
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 Middlebury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Middlebury, and Middlebury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts).
A #3 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Middlebury’s residents live in 2 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, Middlebury has less expected damage per building than 97% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Middlebury: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Middlebury flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Middlebury, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Vermont/New York Flooding1 claim · $2K
Middlebury isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Addison County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Middlebury
Disasters that paid out in Middlebury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Middlebury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$846K to the Town of Middlebury for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$366K to the Town of Middlebury for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$13K to the Town of Middlebury for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms and Flooding$40K to the Town of Middlebury for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene13 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$65K to the Town of Middlebury for repairs
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$813K to the Town of Middlebury for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$235K to the Town of Middlebury for repairs
- 2001Snow$21K to the Town of Middlebury for repairs
Addison County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Middlebury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Middlebury archive →Middlebury and its neighbors
Middlebury has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlebury | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Cornwall | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Salisbury | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | — |
| New Haven | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Bristol | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Weybridge | — | 781 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Ripton | — | 508 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 Middlebury 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Middlebury
Is Middlebury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middlebury has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #3 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Middlebury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Middlebury since 1982, $11K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Vermont/New York Flooding (1).
Is Middlebury 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 Addison County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Middlebury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Middlebury’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 Middlebury?
By FEMA money that reached Middlebury, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): $846K to the Town of Middlebury for repairs. By flood claims, Vermont/New York Flooding: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Middlebury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Middlebury’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Middlebury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Middlebury’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.