Photo: Putneypics · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Putney faces less hazard damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Putney gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #25 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). 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 Putney 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 Putney’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Putney, and Putney’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #25 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Putney’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Putney has less expected damage per building than 66% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $682K a year in losses across Putney: $465K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Putney flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Putney. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Putney 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Putney
Disasters that paid out in Putney itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Putney), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$41K aid approved$166K to the Town of Putney for repairs
- 2021Severe Storm and Flooding$837K to the Town of Putney for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene15 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$90K to the Town of Putney for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$16K to the Town of Putney for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$14K to the Town of Putney for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$22K to the Town of Putney for repairs
Show all 8
- 2001Snow$5K to the Town of Putney for repairs
- 1999Tropical Storm Floyd$19K to the Town of Putney for repairs
Windham County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Putney after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Putney archive →Putney and its neighbors
Putney has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Putney | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Westminster | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Westmoreland | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Dummerston | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brookline | — | 531 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 Putney 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 Putney
Is Putney at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Putney has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #25 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (6%). 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.
Is Putney 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 Putney?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Putney’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 Putney?
By FEMA money that reached Putney, Severe Storm and Flooding (2021): $837K to the Town of Putney for repairs.
Is Putney at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Putney’s rate for it is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Putney.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Putney’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.