Natural disaster risk in Vermont, by county
All 14 counties in Vermont, 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: Chittenden County (relatively low, score 63.9). Lowest: Grand Isle County (very low, score 1.9).
Top hazards in Vermont
| Hazard | Counties rated relatively high or very high | Average score |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning | 1 of 14 | 53.1 |
| Landslide | 0 of 14 | 73.3 |
| Hurricane | 0 of 14 | 64.2 |
| Winter weather | 0 of 14 | 59.4 |
| Inland (riverine) flooding | 0 of 14 | 53.9 |
All counties, highest risk first
| # | County | Overall risk | Highest-rated hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chittenden County | Relatively low 63.9 | Lightning (relatively high) |
| 2 | Windsor County | Relatively low 61.6 | Landslide (relatively moderate) |
| 3 | Windham County | Relatively low 56.9 | Ice storm (relatively moderate) |
| 4 | Bennington County | Relatively low 52.3 | Cold wave (relatively moderate) |
| 5 | Washington County | Relatively low 52.2 | Landslide (relatively moderate) |
| 6 | Rutland County | Relatively low 50.5 | Lightning (relatively moderate) |
| 7 | Orleans County | Very low 36.8 | Winter weather (relatively moderate) |
| 8 | Caledonia County | Very low 30.2 | Winter weather (relatively moderate) |
| 9 | Franklin County | Very low 29.2 | Ice storm (relatively moderate) |
| 10 | Addison County | Very low 26.8 | Landslide (relatively low) |
| 11 | Orange County | Very low 26.4 | Lightning (relatively moderate) |
| 12 | Lamoille County | Very low 18.3 | Winter weather (relatively moderate) |
| 13 | Essex County | Very low 3.2 | Winter weather (relatively low) |
| 14 | Grand Isle County | Very low 1.9 | Ice storm (relatively low) |
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 Vermont has the highest natural disaster risk?
Chittenden County has the highest composite risk score in Vermont in FEMA's National Risk Index: 63.9, rated relatively low.
Which county in Vermont has the lowest natural disaster risk?
Grand Isle County has the lowest composite risk score in Vermont: 1.9, rated very low. A low score means lower modelled risk compared with other US counties, not no risk.
What natural disasters is Vermont most at risk from?
Across Vermont, the hazards rated highest in the most counties are lightning, landslide, hurricane, according to FEMA's National Risk Index. Each county page lists all 18 hazards.
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