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Rutland County, Vermont

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

Relatively Low overall risk
6th of 14highest risk in Vermont
$19Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Rutland County, Vermont has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 50% of US counties. It ranks 6th of 14 counties in Vermont. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $19 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $308 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (Tropical Depression Debby). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (245 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.8 million on 284 claims here, including $2.9 million 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 Rutland County

$13.4 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.
$1.6 million 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.

Strong wind

Moderate
$690,498 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow67.3
$13M
Cold waveLow59.2
$2M
Strong windModerate53.3
$690K
HurricaneLow70.0
$679K
Heat waveLow55.5
$548K
EarthquakeVery Low58.2
$472K
LightningModerate65.1
$469K
TornadoVery Low25.8
$437K
Ice stormModerate62.3
$169K
HailVery Low27.4
$121K
Winter weatherModerate61.9
$110K
LandslideLow82.7
$26K
WildfireVery Low23.0
$11K
AvalancheVery Low66.7
$3K

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 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 Rutland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm8
Flood7
Hurricane3
Snowstorm1
Tropical Storm1

Most recent

Aug 8, 2024Tropical Depression DebbyEmergency
Mar 2, 2024Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 14, 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2023FloodingEmergency
Aug 22, 2021Tropical Storm HenriEmergency
Jun 14, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 16, 2017Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2015Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Aug 2, 2013Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2011Tropical Storm IreneMajor disaster
Show all 20
Aug 29, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
May 4, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 18, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 10, 1999Tropical Storm FloydMajor disaster
Jun 30, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 13, 1996Ice Jams and FloodingMajor disaster
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 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 431 storm reports in Rutland County since 1955, with 5 deaths and 7 injuries and about $70.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on July 13, 2023 near Benson Lndg.

2tornadoes
90hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
281damaging thunderstorm winds
47floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 13, 2023EF0Benson Lndg0 / 0
Jul 21, 1961F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 28, 2011Flash FloodBenson$52M
Aug 28, 2011FloodMt Tabor$6M
Jun 14, 2008Flash FloodRutland$2M
Jul 1, 2017Flash FloodMt Tabor$1M
Apr 15, 2019Flash FloodNorth Pawlet$1M
Jul 1, 2017Flash FloodForest Dale$700K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 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 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Rutland County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893, with top winds near 70 mph about 42 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2011most recent: Irene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph42 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 55 mph58 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph42 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 Rutland County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (245 policies)
19.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.8 millionpaid on 284 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $2.9 million 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 Rutland County

$229,400median home value (Vermont $316,600, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Vermont 1976, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.6%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; 33,991 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
Washington County, NYLow12
Windsor CountyLow25
Bennington CountyLow19
Addison CountyVery Low28

Common questions about Rutland County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Rutland County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Rutland County, about $13.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Rutland County had?

Rutland County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Depression Debby in August 2024.

Is Rutland County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 6th 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 Rutland County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Rutland 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 Rutland County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Rutland County since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on July 13, 2023 near Benson Lndg. The weather service has also logged 90 hail reports and 47 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Rutland County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Rutland 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.