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Addison County, Vermont

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
10th of 14highest risk in Vermont
$11Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Addison County, Vermont has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 73% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 14 counties in Vermont. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $302 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (severe storm, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (123 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.6 million on 99 claims here, including $880,000 for floods in 2011.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Addison County

$7.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • 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.
$716,975 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$595,242 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 30 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow47.7
$8M
Cold waveLow36.4
$717K
HurricaneLow67.5
$595K
EarthquakeVery Low55.8
$474K
Strong windLow31.7
$391K
Heat waveLow45.6
$381K
LightningLow54.2
$345K
TornadoVery Low20.3
$304K
Ice stormLow52.8
$122K
Winter weatherLow54.4
$95K
HailVery Low14.8
$63K
WildfireVery Low21.4
$11K
LandslideLow72.3
$9K
AvalancheVery Low60.8
$2K

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 Addison County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood8
Hurricane3
Drought1
Snowstorm1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Aug 20, 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 8, 2024Tropical Depression DebbyEmergency
Oct 6, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 14, 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2023FloodingEmergency
Aug 22, 2021Tropical Storm HenriEmergency
Jan 17, 2020Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2018Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 16, 2017Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 29, 2015Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 28
Feb 3, 2015Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jun 22, 2012Severe Storm, Tornado, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2011Tropical Storm IreneMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Jun 15, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 15, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jul 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1998Severe Ice Storms, Rain, High Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 13, 1996Ice Jams and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 1993Heavy Rain, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 11, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 6, 1977DroughtEmergency
Aug 5, 1976Severe Storms, High Winds & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 6, 1973Severe Storms, Flooding, & LandslidesMajor disaster

Vermont also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1959

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 391 storm reports in Addison County since 1959, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries and about $40.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on March 26, 2021 near Middlebury.

5tornadoes
104hail reports, largest 2 inches
208damaging thunderstorm winds
62floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 26, 2021EF1Middlebury2 / 0
Jun 18, 2026EF1Lincoln0 / 0
Jun 9, 1965F1–1 / 0
Jul 18, 2022EF1Addison0 / 0
Jul 18, 2022EF0Vergennes0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 28, 2011Flash FloodFerrisburg$21M
Jun 27, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$6M
Aug 28, 2004Flash FloodBristol$2M
Aug 3, 2023Flash FloodWest Addison$1M
Jul 1, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1M
Jul 1, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1893, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Addison County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 50 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1893most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph50 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph50 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 Addison County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (123 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.6 millionpaid on 99 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $879,817 paid

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 Addison County

$361,200median home value (Vermont $316,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Vermont 1976, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 17,617 housing units.

Compare in Vermont

All 14 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Chittenden CountyLowInland flooding
Rutland CountyLowInland flooding
Washington CountyLowInland flooding
Windsor CountyLowInland flooding
Franklin CountyVery LowInland flooding
Windham CountyLowInland flooding
Bennington CountyLowInland flooding
Addison CountyVery LowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Chittenden CountyLow30
Washington County, NYLow12
Rutland CountyLow20
Washington CountyLow31
Windsor CountyLow25
Essex County, NYLow21
Orange CountyVery Low32

Common questions about Addison County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Addison County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Addison County, about $7.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $716,975.

How many federal disasters has Addison County had?

Addison County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in August 2024.

Is Addison County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 10th highest of 14 in Vermont. 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 Addison County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Addison County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Addison County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Addison County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on March 26, 2021 near Middlebury. The weather service has also logged 104 hail reports and 62 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Addison County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Addison County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with winds near 70 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.