Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 9 planning regions in Connecticut. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $54 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $477 per resident. Since 1978 it has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2024 (Hawthorne Fire). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (313 policies).
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Northwest Hills 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.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 88.0 | $42M | ||
| Hurricane | 86.8 | $6M | ||
| Tornado | 42.9 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 50.3 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 66.3 | $840K | ||
| Strong wind | 48.2 | $678K | ||
| Ice storm | 80.8 | $563K | ||
| Lightning | 47.9 | $280K | ||
| Hail | 44.5 | $276K | ||
| Heat wave | 30.8 | $184K | ||
| Drought | 40.9 | $93K | ||
| Winter weather | 51.2 | $86K | ||
| Wildfire | 39.9 | $34K | ||
| Landslide | 82.8 | $30K | ||
| Avalanche | 50.6 | $743 |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Northwest Hills Planning Region. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 33
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 1861, 5 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Northwest Hills Planning Region, 13 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1938, with top winds near 115 mph about 61 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 1938 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 12, 1960 | Donna | Category 1, 95 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 27, 1985 | Gloria | Category 1, 85 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Oct 10, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 60 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 49 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 22, 2021 | Henri | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 63 mi |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 50 mi |
| Sep 17, 1999 | Floyd | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 53 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 49 mi |
| Sep 27, 1985 | Gloria | Category 1, 85 mph | 57 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 Northwest Hills 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 Northwest Hills 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; 55,752 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Capitol Planning Region | 30 | |
| Western Connecticut Planning Region | 33 | |
| Hampden County, MA | 22 | |
| Naugatuck Valley Planning Region | 36 | |
| Dutchess County, NY | 23 | |
| Berkshire County, MA | 21 |
Cities in Northwest Hills Planning Region
Common questions about Northwest Hills Planning Region
What is the biggest natural hazard in Northwest Hills Planning Region?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Northwest Hills Planning Region, about $41.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $6.2 million.
How many federal disasters has Northwest Hills Planning Region had?
Northwest Hills Planning Region has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1978, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Hawthorne Fire in October 2024.
Is Northwest Hills Planning Region a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 8th 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 Northwest Hills Planning Region?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 143 homes in Northwest Hills 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 Northwest Hills Planning Region?
NOAA's hurricane records show 5 hurricanes and 18 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Northwest Hills Planning Region, including 1 major hurricane (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1938, with winds near 115 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.