Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Milton

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
WestMiltonBridgePhoto: Sharonaz39 · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Milton · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Milton than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milton gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #22 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 23 claims here since 1982.

River and rain flooding 89%Earthquakes 4%Hurricanes 2%

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

less than 76%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#22 of 71 in Vermont
Hazard risk
A−#22 of 71
in Vermont · lower than 76% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
89% of expected building damage
Flood claims
23
paid since 1982 · $490K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
11
of 29 declared for Chittenden County

What stands out about Milton’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Moved out of harm’s way2 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 20118 flood claims were paid for 2011 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Milton 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

89%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Hurricanes Ice storms Strong wind Tornadoes Winter storms Lightning Wildfire Hail Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts avalanches at 14% of Milton’s expected losses. Avalanches do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Milton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Milton, and Milton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Milton sits
Milton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #22 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Milton’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding89%Earthquakes4%Everything else6%

The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Milton has less expected damage per building than 70% of Vermont towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Milton: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Milton covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Milton flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1982

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Milton, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1982: 1 claim1983: 0 claims1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 2 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 2 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 8 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 8 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199320112023
19822026
Biggest named events
  • The Vermont/New York Flooding8 claims · $193K
23
paid claims since 1982
$490K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$21K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Milton 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.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
2flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Milton

Disasters that paid out in Milton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Milton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
  2. 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides23 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$10K to the Town of Milton for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$108K to the Town of Milton for repairs
  4. 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$21K to the Town of Milton for repairs
  5. 2015Severe Storm and Flooding$7K to the Town of Milton for repairs
  6. 2013Severe Winter Storms$14K to the Town of Milton for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the Town of Milton for repairs
  2. 2011Tropical Storm Irene5 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$46K to the Town of Milton for repairs
  3. 2011Severe Storms and Flooding60 households applied for aid$71K aid approved$17K to the Town of Milton for repairs
  4. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$29K to the Town of Milton for repairs
  5. 2001Snow$6K to the Town of Milton for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in MiltonChittenden County only

Chittenden County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.

Were you here?

Old photos of Milton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Milton archive →
Next door

Milton and its neighbors

Milton is 2nd of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

South Hero: hazard risk BColchester: hazard risk AGrand Isle: hazard risk BWestford: hazard risk BGeorgia: hazard risk A−Fairfax: hazard risk BSouth HeroColchesterGrand IsleWestfordGeorgiaFairfaxMilton
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
ColchesterAless damage than 92%river and rain flooding41
MiltonA−less damage than 76%river and rain flooding23
GeorgiaA−less damage than 75%river and rain flooding5
WestfordBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding—
FairfaxBless damage than 60%river and rain flooding3
South HeroBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding9
Grand IsleBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding3

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Milton faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Milton

Is Milton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Milton has lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #22 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.

Does Milton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Milton since 1982, $490K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Vermont/New York Flooding (8).

Is Milton 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 Milton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Milton’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 Milton?

By FEMA money that reached Milton, Severe Storm and Flooding (2019): $108K to the Town of Milton for repairs. By flood claims, Vermont/New York Flooding: 8 paid, $193K.

Is Milton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Milton’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Milton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Milton’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.