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Jericho & Mt Mansfield aerial 2019-04-06Photo: John Mackenzie Burke · CC BY-SA 4.0
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Underhill · FEMA

Less hazard damage per building is expected in Underhill than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Underhill gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #42 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1982.

River and rain flooding 92%Earthquakes 2%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 62%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#42 of 71 in Vermont
Hazard risk
B#42 of 71
in Vermont · lower than 62% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
92% of expected building damage
Flood claims
10
paid since 1982 · $77K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
12
of 29 declared for Chittenden County

What stands out about Underhill’s natural hazards

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

Lower expected damage than 62% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Landslides: the top 2% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for landslides here ranks in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts; it is 0.4% of the damage it expects.Moved out of harm’s way2 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.
By hazard

What Underhill 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

92%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Hurricanes Strong wind Ice storms Tornadoes Winter storms Landslides top 2% Lightning Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Avalanches top 1%
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts avalanches at 19% of Underhill’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 Underhill’s grade

River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Underhill, and Underhill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Underhill sits
Underhill
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #42 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Underhill’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding92%Everything else8%

The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Underhill has more expected damage per building than 59% of Vermont towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Underhill: $799K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Underhill’s 3,129 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract, which it shares with Westford town (2,062 residents) and Bolton town (1,301 residents) and Bolton Valley CDP (295 residents) and Underhill Center CDP (142 residents) and Westford CDP (99 residents) and Bolton CDP (23 residents). FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s, the same for all of them. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Underhill flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1982

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Underhill, from FEMA’s records: 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1982: 1 claim1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 1 claim1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 1 claim2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 1 claim2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 2 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 3 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198220112013
19822026
10
paid claims since 1982
$77K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$8K
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

Underhill 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

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Underhill

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

  1. 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
  2. 2024Severe Winter Storm$21K to the Town of Underhill for repairs
  3. 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides10 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
  4. 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$44K to the Town of Underhill for repairs
  5. 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$16K to the Town of Underhill for repairs
  6. 2015Severe Storm and Flooding$3K to the Town of Underhill for repairs
Show all 12
  1. 2014Severe Winter Storm$25K to the Town of Underhill for repairs
  2. 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$23K to the Town of Underhill for repairs
  3. 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$312K to the Town of Underhill for repairs
  4. 2011Tropical Storm Irene1 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
  5. 2011Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$101K to the Town of Underhill for repairs
  6. 2001Snow$7K to the Town of Underhill for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in UnderhillChittenden 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 Underhill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Underhill archive →
Next door

Underhill and its neighbors

Underhill is 4th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Cambridge: hazard risk C+Westford: hazard risk BJericho: hazard risk AStowe: hazard risk BEssex: hazard risk ACambridgeWestfordJerichoStoweEssexUnderhill
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
EssexAless damage than 89%river and rain flooding1
JerichoAless damage than 87%river and rain flooding5
WestfordBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding—
UnderhillBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding10
StoweBless damage than 61%river and rain flooding18
CambridgeC+more damage than 62%river and rain flooding14

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 Underhill 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 Underhill

Is Underhill at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Underhill has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #42 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). 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 Underhill flood?

Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Underhill since 1982, $77K in all, or 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.

Is Underhill 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 Underhill?

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

By FEMA money that reached Underhill, Severe Storms and Flooding (2013): $312K to the Town of Underhill for repairs.

Is Underhill at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Underhill’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Underhill.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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