Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Waterbury faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waterbury gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #54 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 64 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 Waterbury’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Waterbury 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 Waterbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Waterbury, and Waterbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #54 of 71 in Vermont; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Waterbury’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, Waterbury has more expected damage per building than 76% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Waterbury: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Waterbury flood? Sometimes: 64 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Waterbury, from FEMA’s records: 24.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Vermont/New York Flooding31 claims · $1.1M
- Hurricane Irene14 claims · $1.4M
- The December nor’easter8 claims · $128K
Waterbury is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Washington County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Waterbury
Disasters that paid out in Waterbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Waterbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides117 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$588K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides148 households applied for aid$405K aid approved$316K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs39 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$10K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms and Flooding$45K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm$9K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$72K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs
Show all 10
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene429 households applied for aid$2.6M aid approved$291K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$15K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs
- 1999Tropical Storm Floyd$4K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs
Washington County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Waterbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Waterbury archive →Waterbury and its neighbors
Waterbury is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolton | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Stowe | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Middlesex | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Waterbury | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Duxbury | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Moretown | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
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 Waterbury 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.
- Waterbury residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Waterbury
Is Waterbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waterbury has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #54 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Waterbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 64 claims in Waterbury since 2011, $3.0M in all, or 24.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Vermont/New York Flooding (31).
Is Waterbury 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 Washington County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Waterbury?
Waterbury is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Waterbury?
By FEMA money that reached Waterbury, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): 429 households applied for aid, $2.6M approved, and $291K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs. By flood claims, Vermont/New York Flooding: 31 paid, $1.1M.
Is Waterbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Waterbury’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Waterbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Waterbury’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.