Natural hazards · Arlington

Arlington, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Arlington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 2011. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Arlington?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Arlington to be higher than in 70% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding72%Cold waves19%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Arlington 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

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

19% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 44% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtTsunamisVolcanic 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 Arlington flood?

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

12paid claims since 2011

$193Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20112026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 12 claims, $193K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Bennington County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Arlington

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ArlingtonDeclared for Bennington County only

2021

Severe Storm and Flooding

$17K to the Town of Arlington for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

62 households applied for aid $155K aid approved $180K to the Town of Arlington for repairs

2001

Snow

$6K to the Town of Arlington for repairs

2000

Severe Storms and Flooding

$19K to the Town of Arlington for repairs

Bennington County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Arlington

Arlington and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Arlingtonmostly inland floodingHigh

Sunderlandmostly inland floodingHigh

Sandgatemostly inland floodingHigh

Shaftsburymostly inland floodingLow

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. Arlington covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Arlington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Arlington. 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 Arlington total about $2.7M 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.