Natural hazards · Middlesex

Middlesex, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Middlesex comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 32 claims here since 1978. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Middlesex?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Middlesex to be higher than in 38% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding76%Everything else25%

By hazard

What Middlesex faces

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

Inland flooding

76% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat 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 Middlesex flood?

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

32paid claims since 1978

$676Kpaid to owners

4homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 8 claims, $216K
Vermont/New York Flooding: 7 claims, $372K

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

Insurance rates: Washington County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

18flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Middlesex

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MiddlesexDeclared for Washington County only

2024

Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

40 households applied for aid $340K aid approved $3.9M to the Town of Middlesex for repairs

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

69 households applied for aid $539K aid approved $6.3M to the Town of Middlesex for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

10 households applied for aid $48K aid approved $29K to the Town of Middlesex for repairs

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $93 aid approved $44K to the Town of Middlesex for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

$22K to the Town of Middlesex for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$57K to the Town of Middlesex for repairs

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

Around Middlesex

Middlesex and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Moretownmostly inland floodingHigh

Montpeliermostly inland floodingHigh

Waterburymostly inland floodingModerate

Berlinmostly inland floodingModerate

Middlesexmostly inland floodingLow

Worcestermostly inland floodingLow

East Montpeliermostly 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. Middlesex covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Middlesex’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Middlesex. 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 Middlesex total about $950K 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.