Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Williston’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williston gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #6 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 Williston 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
Earthquakes
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 Williston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Williston, and Williston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts).
A #6 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Williston’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Williston has less expected damage per building than 93% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Williston: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Williston flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Williston, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Williston 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 Williston
Disasters that paid out in Williston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Williston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides9 households applied for aid$71K aid approved$25K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2024Severe Winter Storm$8K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides8 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$289K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$329K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2018Severe Storm and Flooding$30K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$311K to the Town of Williston for repairs
Show all 12
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$78K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$4K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$43K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2010Severe Storm$42K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the Town of Williston for repairs
- 2001Snow$7K to the Town of Williston for repairs
Chittenden County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Williston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Williston archive →Williston and its neighbors
Williston is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Burlington | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Williston | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Essex | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Jericho | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Essex Junction | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Richmond | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| St. George | — | 812 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 Williston 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Williston
Is Williston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williston has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #6 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Williston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Williston since 2011, $23K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Williston 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 Williston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Williston’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 Williston?
By FEMA money that reached Williston, Severe Storm and Flooding (2019): $329K to the Town of Williston for repairs.
Is Williston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Williston’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Williston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Williston’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.