Natural hazards · Waitsfield

Waitsfield, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Waitsfield comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 21 claims here since 1998. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Waitsfield?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Waitsfield to be higher than in 47% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding81%Everything else19%

By hazard

What Waitsfield 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

Above average · higher than 74% 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 Waitsfield flood?

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

21paid claims since 1998

$884Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19982026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 19 claims, $823K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Waitsfield 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

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Waitsfield

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WaitsfieldDeclared for Washington County only

2024

Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

23 households applied for aid $98K aid approved $65K to the Town of Waitsfield for repairs

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

6 households applied for aid $42K aid approved

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

62 households applied for aid $163K aid approved $261K to the Town of Waitsfield for repairs

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $225 aid approved $192K to the Town of Waitsfield for repairs

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

Around Waitsfield

Waitsfield and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Northfieldmostly inland floodingHigh

Moretownmostly inland floodingHigh

Waitsfieldmostly inland floodingModerate

Faystonmostly inland floodingModerate

Warrenmostly 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. Waitsfield covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Waitsfield’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Waitsfield. 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 Waitsfield total about $836K 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.