Natural hazards · Waterbury

Waterbury, VT natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Waterbury comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 64 claims here since 2011. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Waterbury?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Waterbury to be higher than in 48% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding82%Everything else19%

By hazard

What Waterbury faces

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

Inland flooding

82% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% 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 Waterbury flood?

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

64paid claims since 2011

$3.0Mpaid to owners

12homes flooded more than once

20112026

Biggest named events

Vermont/New York Flooding: 31 claims, $1.1M
Hurricane Irene: 14 claims, $1.4M
December Nor'easter: 8 claims, $128K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (5) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Waterbury is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Washington County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

15flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

2homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Waterbury

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WaterburyDeclared for Washington County only

2024

Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

117 households applied for aid $1.0M aid approved $588K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs

2023

Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

148 households applied for aid $405K aid approved $316K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs

2017

Severe Storms and Flooding

$55K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs

2014

Severe Winter Storm

$9K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs

2013

Severe Storms and Flooding

$72K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

429 households applied for aid $2.6M aid approved $291K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

14 households applied for aid $18K aid approved $15K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs

1999

Tropical Storm Floyd

$4K to the Town of Waterbury for repairs

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

Around Waterbury

Waterbury and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Duxburymostly inland floodingHigh

Moretownmostly inland floodingHigh

Waterburymostly inland floodingModerate

Middlesexmostly inland floodingLow

Stowemostly inland floodingLow

Boltonmostly 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. Waterbury covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Waterbury’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Waterbury. 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 Waterbury total about $2.2M 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.