Natural hazards · Benson

Benson, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Benson comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Benson?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Benson to be higher than in 19% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding71%Cold waves9%Everything else21%

By hazard

What Benson 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

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

9% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 39% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 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 Benson flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Benson.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Rutland County.

Disasters that hit Benson

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into BensonDeclared for Rutland County only

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid

2014

Severe Winter Storm

$29K to the Town of Benson for repairs

2013

Severe Storms and Flooding

$87K to the Town of Benson for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

4 households applied for aid $3K aid approved $145K to the Town of Benson for repairs

2001

Snow

$5K to the Town of Benson for repairs

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

Around Benson

Benson and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Putnammostly inland floodingHigh

Dresdenmostly inland floodingHigh

Castletonmostly inland floodingLow

Bensonmostly inland floodingVery low

West Havenmostly inland floodingVery low

Fair Havenmostly inland floodingVery low

Orwellmostly 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. Benson covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Benson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Benson. 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 Benson total about $810K 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.