Natural hazards · Smithfield

Smithfield, RI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Smithfield comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 1979. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Smithfield?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Smithfield to be higher than in 28% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding72%Hurricanes8%Heat waves6%Cold waves6%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Smithfield faces

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

Inland flooding

72% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 51% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 19% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 33% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Smithfield flood?

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

18paid claims since 1979

$329Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

March 2010 Nor'easter: 6 claims, $163K
Not a named storm: 4 claims, $57K
Hurricane Elsa: 1 claim, $7K

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. Smithfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Providence County.

Disasters that hit Smithfield

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SmithfieldDeclared for Providence County only

2024

Severe Storms and Flooding

92 households applied for aid $362K aid approved

2023

Severe Storm and Flooding

83 households applied for aid $386K aid approved

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

36 households applied for aid $99K aid approved

2022

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$67K to the Town of Smithfield for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$129K to the Town of Smithfield for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$73K to the Town of Smithfield for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

$89K to the Town of Smithfield for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

246 households applied for aid $279K aid approved $127K to the Town of Smithfield for repairs

2005

Record Snow

$45K to the Town of Smithfield for repairs

2003

Snow

$25K to the Town of Smithfield for repairs

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

Around Smithfield

Smithfield and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

North Providencemostly inland floodingModerate

Johnstonmostly inland floodingLow

North Smithfieldmostly inland floodingLow

Lincolnmostly inland floodingLow

Smithfieldmostly inland floodingLow

Glocestermostly 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. Smithfield covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Smithfield’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Smithfield. 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 Smithfield total about $5.0M 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.