Natural hazards · Exeter

Exeter, RI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Exeter comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 2008. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Exeter?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Exeter to be higher than in 17% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding70%Hurricanes13%Everything else17%

By hazard

What Exeter faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

70% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 32% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Exeter flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Exeter, from FEMA’s records.

7paid claims since 2008

$45Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20082026

Biggest named events

March 2010 Nor'easter: 5 claims, $44K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Exeter isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Washington County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

2buildings retrofitted against wind

Disasters that hit Exeter

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Exeter itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Exeter.

Brought FEMA money into ExeterDeclared for Washington County only

2024

Severe Storms and Flooding

42 households applied for aid $228K aid approved $263K to the Town of Exeter for repairs

2023

Severe Storm and Flooding

11 households applied for aid $17K aid approved

2022

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$45K to the Town of Exeter for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$35K to the Town of Exeter for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$37K to the Town of Exeter for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

2 households applied for aid $28K to the Town of Exeter for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

$24K to the Town of Exeter for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

311 households applied for aid $355K aid approved $318K to the Town of Exeter for repairs

2005

Record Snow

$12K to the Town of Exeter for repairs

2003

Snow

$8K to the Town of Exeter for repairs

Washington County has had 20 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and hurricanes.

Around Exeter

Exeter and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Hopkintonmostly inland floodingModerate

Voluntownmostly inland floodingLow

Richmondmostly inland floodingLow

East Greenwichmostly inland floodingLow

North Kingstownmostly inland floodingLow

South Kingstownmostly inland floodingLow

Exetermostly inland floodingVery low

West Greenwichmostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Exeter covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Exeter’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Exeter. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Exeter total about $1.2M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.