Natural hazards · Topsham

Topsham, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Topsham comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2008. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Topsham?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Topsham to be higher than in 58% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding79%Everything else21%

By hazard

What Topsham faces

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

Inland flooding

79% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about once 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 Topsham flood?

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

3paid claims since 2008

$75Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

20082026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 1 claim, $21K

Homes that flooded again and again

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

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Orange County.

Disasters that hit Topsham

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into TopshamDeclared for Orange County only

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

2 households applied for aid $29K aid approved $363K to the Town of Topsham for repairs

2017

Severe Storms and Flooding

$27K to the Town of Topsham for repairs

2014

Severe Storms and Flooding

$33K to the Town of Topsham for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

3 households applied for aid $5K aid approved $76K to the Town of Topsham for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

$25K to the Town of Topsham for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$6K to the Town of Topsham for repairs

Orange County has had 28 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Topsham

Topsham and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Topshammostly inland floodingModerate

Corinthmostly inland floodingModerate

Newburymostly inland floodingModerate

Grotonmostly 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. Topsham covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Topsham’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Topsham. 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 Topsham total about $1.1M 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.