Natural hazards · Northfield

Northfield, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Northfield comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 34 claims here since 2011. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Northfield?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Northfield to be higher than in 67% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding81%Everything else20%

By hazard

What Northfield faces

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

Inland flooding

81% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Northfield flood?

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

34paid claims since 2011

$1.3Mpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

20112026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 26 claims, $1.2M
Vermont/New York Flooding: 6 claims, $56K

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. Northfield 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

19flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

1homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Northfield

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into NorthfieldDeclared for Washington County only

2024

Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

4 households applied for aid $3K aid approved $6K to the Town of Northfield for repairs

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

55 households applied for aid $263K aid approved $626K to the Town of Northfield for repairs

2019

Severe Storms and Flooding

$50K to the Town of Northfield for repairs

2014

Severe Winter Storm

$3K to the Town of Northfield for repairs

2013

Severe Storms and Flooding

$62K to the Town of Northfield for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

176 households applied for aid $880K aid approved $1.6M to the Town of Northfield for repairs

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

14 households applied for aid $19K aid approved $208K to the Town of Northfield for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

$28K to the Town of Northfield for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$40K to the Town of Northfield for repairs

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

Around Northfield

Northfield and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Northfieldmostly inland floodingHigh

Moretownmostly inland floodingHigh

Waitsfieldmostly inland floodingModerate

Berlinmostly inland floodingModerate

Williamstownmostly 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. Northfield covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Northfield’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Northfield. 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 Northfield total about $747K 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.