Natural hazards · Groton

Groton, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Groton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1984. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Groton?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Groton to be higher than in 56% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding77%Cold waves8%Hurricanes7%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Groton faces

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

Inland flooding

77% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

8% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 41% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

7% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 21 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce 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 Groton flood?

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

15paid claims since 1984

$156Kpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

19842026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 4 claims, $34K
Vermont/New York Flooding: 2 claims, $20K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Caledonia County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

12flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Groton

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into GrotonDeclared for Caledonia County only

2024

Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

28 households applied for aid $119K aid approved $328K to the Town of Groton for repairs

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

12 households applied for aid $47K aid approved $9K to the Town of Groton for repairs

2014

Severe Storms and Flooding

$14K to the Town of Groton for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

18 households applied for aid $34K aid approved $524K to the Town of Groton for repairs

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

5 households applied for aid $25K aid approved $89K to the Town of Groton for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

$4K to the Town of Groton for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$34K to the Town of Groton for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$31K to the Town of Groton for repairs

Caledonia County has had 27 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Groton

Groton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Topshammostly inland floodingModerate

Grotonmostly inland floodingModerate

Ryegatemostly inland floodingModerate

Peachammostly inland floodingModerate

Marshfieldmostly inland floodingModerate

Plainfieldmostly inland floodingModerate

Orangemostly inland floodingModerate

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. Groton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Groton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Groton. 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 Groton total about $1.3M 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.