Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 84% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 9 planning regions in Connecticut. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $63 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $361 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2024 (Hawthorne Fire). About 1 in 24 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,463 policies).
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Lower Connecticut River Valley 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 | 90.3 | $49M | ||
| Hurricane | 87.7 | $7M | ||
| Coastal flooding | 79.6 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 74.8 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 43.3 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 53.4 | $739K | ||
| Cold wave | 30.5 | $525K | ||
| Lightning | 59.4 | $395K | ||
| Heat wave | 42.2 | $311K | ||
| Ice storm | 72.8 | $309K | ||
| Winter weather | 65.0 | $131K | ||
| Drought | 35.3 | $51K | ||
| Hail | 11.1 | $44K | ||
| Wildfire | 43.6 | $39K | ||
| Landslide | 72.5 | $9K |
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 very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 37
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 1851, 12 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, 17 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1938, with top winds near 120 mph about 54 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 1938 | Unnamed | Category 3, 120 mph | 54 mi |
| Aug 31, 1954 | Carol | Category 3, 115 mph | 53 mi |
| Sep 8, 1869 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 60 mi |
| Aug 19, 1991 | Bob | Category 2, 105 mph | 54 mi |
| Sep 15, 1944 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 12, 1960 | Donna | Category 2, 100 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2021 | Henri | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 17, 1999 | Floyd | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 56 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 41 mi |
| Aug 19, 1991 | Bob | Category 2, 105 mph | 54 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 Lower Connecticut River Valley 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 Lower Connecticut River Valley 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; 82,963 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 | |
| Capitol Planning Region | 30 | |
| South Central Connecticut Planning Region | 34 | |
| Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region | 30 |
Cities in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
Common questions about Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
What is the biggest natural hazard in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, about $48.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $6.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region had?
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Hawthorne Fire in October 2024.
Is Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 7th 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 Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 24 homes in Lower Connecticut River Valley 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 Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region?
NOAA's hurricane records show 12 hurricanes and 23 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, including 3 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.