Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 92% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 9 planning regions in Connecticut. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $104 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $320 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (severe storm, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance (3,901 policies).
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
- Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 93.9 | $61M | ||
| Hurricane | 95.1 | $22M | ||
| Coastal flooding | 94.8 | $11M | ||
| Earthquake | 86.4 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 95.3 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 77.6 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 51.3 | $958K | ||
| Tornado | 41.7 | $882K | ||
| Ice storm | 85.6 | $601K | ||
| Winter weather | 88.7 | $356K | ||
| Lightning | 60.0 | $318K | ||
| Hail | 21.8 | $75K | ||
| Wildfire | 23.9 | $9K | ||
| Drought | 18.5 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 46.5 | $1K |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Greater Bridgeport Planning Region. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 31
Connecticut also had 13 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Includes declarations made under former county codes; Connecticut regions overlap several old counties, so counts are approximate.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1858, 10 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, 17 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1938, with top winds near 120 mph about 52 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 1938 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 31, 1954 | Carol | Category 3, 115 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 15, 1944 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 12, 1960 | Donna | Category 2, 100 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 16, 1858 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 27, 1985 | Gloria | Category 1, 85 mph | 41 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2021 | Henri | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 60 mi |
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 7, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 42 mi |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Floyd | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 43 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 64 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 126,039 housing units.
Compare in Connecticut
All 9 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Capitol Planning Region | Inland flooding | |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region | Inland flooding | |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region | Inland flooding | |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | Inland flooding | |
| Greater Bridgeport Planning Region | Inland flooding | |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | Inland flooding | |
| Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region | Inland flooding | |
| Northwest Hills Planning Region | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County, NY | 32 | |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region | 33 | |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 34 | |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 36 |
Cities in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
Common questions about Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
What is the biggest natural hazard in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, about $60.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $21.9 million.
How many federal disasters has Greater Bridgeport Planning Region had?
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in September 2024.
Is Greater Bridgeport Planning Region a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 5th highest of 9 in Connecticut. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 20 homes in Greater Bridgeport Planning Region has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many hurricanes have hit Greater Bridgeport Planning Region?
NOAA's hurricane records show 10 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, including 2 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1938, with winds near 120 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.