Brown Covered Bridge · Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Shrewsbury faces less hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shrewsbury gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 21 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 stands out about Shrewsbury’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shrewsbury, and Shrewsbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
A lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shrewsbury’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $423K a year in losses across Shrewsbury: $350K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shrewsbury flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shrewsbury, from FEMA’s records: 39.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene10 claims · $170K
- The Vermont/New York Flooding10 claims · $313K
Shrewsbury isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rutland County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shrewsbury
Disasters that paid out in Shrewsbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Shrewsbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$40K aid approved$223K to the Town of Shrewsbury for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storms and Flooding$42K to the Town of Shrewsbury for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene19 households applied for aid$43K aid approved$3.2M to the Town of Shrewsbury for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $170K
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$23K to the Town of Shrewsbury for repairs
- 2001Snow$5K to the Town of Shrewsbury for repairs
Rutland County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Shrewsbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shrewsbury archive →Shrewsbury and its neighbors
Shrewsbury is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mendon | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Shrewsbury | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Clarendon | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mount Holly | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Wallingford | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Plymouth | — | 533 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 Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury
Is Shrewsbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shrewsbury has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). 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 Shrewsbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Shrewsbury since 2011, $484K in all, or 39.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (10).
Is Shrewsbury 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 Rutland County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shrewsbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shrewsbury’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 Shrewsbury?
By FEMA money that reached Shrewsbury, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): 19 households applied for aid, $43K approved, and $3.2M to the Town of Shrewsbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 10 paid, $170K.
Is Shrewsbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Shrewsbury’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shrewsbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shrewsbury’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.