Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2023. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 42% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding74%Cold waves6%Lightning6%Everything else14%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Inland flooding

74% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lightning

6% of expected damage

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

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windAvalanches

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 Washington flood?

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

1paid claims since 2023

$11Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20232026

Biggest named events

Vermont/New York Flooding: 1 claim, $11K

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Washington 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 Washington

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for Orange County only

2024

Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$6K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2023

Severe Storm and Flooding

$59K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

29 households applied for aid $167K aid approved $1.3M to the Town of Washington for repairs

2019

Severe Storms and Flooding

$20K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2017

Severe Storms and Flooding

$33K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2014

Severe Storms and Flooding

$14K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2013

Severe Storms and Flooding

$4K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

2 households applied for aid $5K aid approved $52K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

$20K to the Town of Washington for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$18K to the Town of Washington for repairs

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

Around Washington

Washington and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Chelseamostly inland floodingHigh

Corinthmostly inland floodingModerate

Washingtonmostly inland floodingModerate

Orangemostly 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. Washington is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Washington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Washington. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

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.