Natural hazards · Westerly

Westerly, RI natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Westerly comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 704 claims here since 1978. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Westerly?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Westerly to be higher than in 32% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding71%Coastal flooding10%Hurricanes9%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Westerly faces

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

Inland flooding

71% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Coastal flooding

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Westerly flood?

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

704paid claims since 1978

$28.1Mpaid to owners

51homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Sandy: 341 claims, $19.6M
March 2010 Nor'easter: 89 claims, $3.9M
Hurricane Bob: 62 claims, $1.2M

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (13) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 15% off flood insurance. Westerly is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Washington County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

49homes raised above flood level

4flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Westerly

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WesterlyDeclared for Washington County only

2024

Severe Storms and Flooding

12 households applied for aid $31K aid approved $93K to the Town of Westerly for repairs

2023

Severe Storm and Flooding

7 households applied for aid $6K aid approved

2022

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$103K to the Town of Westerly for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$117K to the Town of Westerly for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$146K to the Town of Westerly for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

226 households applied for aid $199K aid approved $2.0M to the Town of Westerly for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

$109K to the Town of Westerly for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

859 households applied for aid $1.3M aid approved $441K to the Town of Westerly for repairs

2005

Record Snow

$86K to the Town of Westerly for repairs

2003

Snow

$29K to the Town of Westerly for repairs

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

Around Westerly

Westerly and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Stoningtonmostly inland floodingModerate

North Stoningtonmostly inland floodingModerate

Hopkintonmostly inland floodingModerate

Charlestownmostly inland floodingLow

Westerlymostly inland floodingLow

Southoldmostly 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. Westerly covers 5 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Westerly’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Westerly. 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 Westerly total about $6.6M 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.