Natural disaster risk in Connecticut, by county
All 9 counties in Connecticut, ranked by FEMA's National Risk Index composite risk score, with each one's highest-rated hazard. Other states
At a glance
Highest overall risk: Capitol Planning Region (relatively high, score 97.4). Lowest: Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region (relatively low, score 62.8).
Top hazards in Connecticut
| Hazard | Counties rated relatively high or very high | Average score |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 6 of 9 | 92.0 |
| Inland (riverine) flooding | 5 of 9 | 91.8 |
| Ice storm | 5 of 9 | 85.2 |
| Winter weather | 5 of 9 | 75.6 |
| Strong wind | 4 of 9 | 68.8 |
All counties, highest risk first
| # | County | Overall risk | Highest-rated hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capitol Planning Region | Relatively high 97.4 | Ice storm (very high) |
| 2 | Western Connecticut Planning Region | Relatively high 96.3 | Inland (riverine) flooding (relatively high) |
| 3 | South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Relatively high 95.1 | Ice storm (very high) |
| 4 | Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Relatively moderate 93.2 | Inland (riverine) flooding (relatively high) |
| 5 | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | Relatively moderate 91.8 | Coastal flooding (very high) |
| 6 | Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Relatively moderate 88.6 | Hurricane (relatively high) |
| 7 | Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Relatively moderate 83.8 | Inland (riverine) flooding (relatively moderate) |
| 8 | Northwest Hills Planning Region | Relatively low 79.6 | Inland (riverine) flooding (relatively moderate) |
| 9 | Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Relatively low 62.8 | Hurricane (relatively moderate) |
How to read these ratings
- Ratings run in five steps: very low, relatively low, relatively moderate, relatively high and very high. They compare a county with every other US county; they are not a measure of danger on their own.
- Scores run from 0 to 100 and are national percentiles. The bar shows the score: a score of 80 means a higher value than 80% of US counties.
- Overall risk combines the expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.
- Expected annual loss is the average yearly loss to buildings, people and agriculture the model expects from all 18 hazards.
- Social vulnerability describes how hard it may be for people to prepare for and recover from a disaster. Higher is worse.
- Community resilience describes a community's ability to prepare, adapt and recover. Higher is better.
- "Not applicable" means FEMA does not model that hazard there (for example, hurricanes far inland).
About this data
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, version 1.20, released December 2025, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (US public domain). About the National Risk Index. The index is a model of relative risk built from historical hazard records, what is exposed and community factors. It is not a forecast, it does not describe any single property, and it is not insurance or financial advice. For decisions about a specific address, check FEMA's flood maps and your local emergency management office.
Questions
Which county in Connecticut has the highest natural disaster risk?
Capitol Planning Region has the highest composite risk score in Connecticut in FEMA's National Risk Index: 97.4, rated relatively high.
Which county in Connecticut has the lowest natural disaster risk?
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region has the lowest composite risk score in Connecticut: 62.8, rated relatively low. A low score means lower modelled risk compared with other US counties, not no risk.
What natural disasters is Connecticut most at risk from?
Across Connecticut, the hazards rated highest in the most counties are hurricane, inland (riverine) flooding, ice storm, according to FEMA's National Risk Index. Each county page lists all 18 hazards.
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