Richmond Congregational Church · Photo: John Need · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Richmond faces more hazard damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richmond gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #69 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 50 claims here since 1979.
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 Richmond’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Richmond 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 Richmond’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Richmond, and Richmond’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #69 of 71 in Vermont; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Richmond’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, Richmond has more expected damage per building than 97% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Richmond: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Richmond flood? Sometimes: 50 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Richmond, from FEMA’s records: 25.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene13 claims · $394K
- The Vermont/New York Flooding8 claims · $173K
- The December nor’easter2 claims · $26K
Richmond 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Richmond
Disasters that paid out in Richmond itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Richmond), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides146 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$2.9M to the Town of Richmond for repairs
- 2024Severe Winter Storm$9K to the Town of Richmond for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides137 households applied for aid$322K aid approved$884K to the Town of Richmond for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$552K to the Town of Richmond for repairs
- 2018Severe Storm and Flooding$134K to the Town of Richmond for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$8K to the Town of Richmond for repairs
Show all 12
- 2015Severe Storm and Flooding$169K to the Town of Richmond for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm$15K to the Town of Richmond for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$138K to the Town of Richmond for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene40 households applied for aid$199K aid approved$124K to the Town of Richmond for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $394K
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$52K to the Town of Richmond for repairs
- 2001Snow$10K to the Town of Richmond for repairs
Chittenden County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Richmond after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Richmond archive →Richmond and its neighbors
Richmond is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williston | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Jericho | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Bolton | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Richmond | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Huntington | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Richmond 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 Richmond
Is Richmond at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Richmond has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #69 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). 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 Richmond flood?
Flood insurance has paid 50 claims in Richmond since 1979, $1.1M in all, or 25.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (13).
Is Richmond 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 Richmond?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Richmond’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 Richmond?
By FEMA money that reached Richmond, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 146 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved, and $2.9M to the Town of Richmond for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 13 paid, $394K.
Is Richmond at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Richmond’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Richmond.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Richmond’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.