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Windham County, Vermont

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

Relatively Low overall risk
3rd of 14highest risk in Vermont
$20Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Windham County, Vermont has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 57% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 14 counties in Vermont. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $20 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $443 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (Tropical Depression Debby). About 1 in 77 homes here carry federal flood insurance (269 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $11 million on 312 claims here, including $9.1 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 Windham County

$14.7 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$986,765 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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 floodingLow71.3
$15M
Cold waveModerate68.4
$2M
HurricaneLow74.6
$987K
TornadoLow40.0
$914K
LightningModerate61.1
$369K
EarthquakeVery Low49.7
$288K
Ice stormModerate72.2
$262K
Strong windLow23.5
$230K
Heat waveVery Low38.3
$221K
HailVery Low31.5
$136K
Winter weatherLow49.2
$66K
LandslideLow85.4
$33K
WildfireVery Low20.9
$8K
AvalancheVery Low46.1
$417

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 Windham County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood8
Severe Storm8
Hurricane3
Snowstorm1
Severe Ice Storm1
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
Sep 29, 2021Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 22, 2021Tropical Storm HenriEmergency
Jan 2, 2018Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 8, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 1, 2011Tropical Storm IreneMajor disaster
Aug 29, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Show all 22
Jan 14, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
May 4, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 10, 2001SnowEmergency
Jul 27, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 10, 1999Tropical Storm FloydMajor disaster
Jun 27, 1996Extreme Rainfall 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
Aug 30, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 347 storm reports in Windham County since 1957, with 1 death and 8 injuries and about $9.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 5, 2002 near Windham.

5tornadoes
34hail reports, largest 2 inches
185damaging thunderstorm winds
117floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 5, 2002F2Windham0 / 0
Jul 21, 2003F1Stratton0 / 0
Aug 21, 2019EF1Windham0 / 0
Jul 14, 1988F0–0 / 0
Jul 5, 1957F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 13, 1996Flash FloodGrafton$1M
Jul 29, 2021Flash FloodNewfane$1M
Jul 29, 2021Flash FloodBellows Falls$1M
Jul 29, 2021Flash FloodAthens$600K
Jul 10, 2023Flash FloodLondonderry$500K
Jul 10, 2023FloodLondonderry$500K

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 1861, 2 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Windham County, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Gloria (1985), with top winds near 80 mph about 39 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
9tropical storms
2011most recent: Irene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 1, 80 mph39 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph60 mi
Sep 30, 1874UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph57 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph49 mi
Sep 11, 1968UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph46 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 1, 80 mph39 mi
Aug 10, 1976BelleTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 55 mph34 mi
Sep 11, 1968UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph46 mi
Jul 30, 1960BrendaTropical storm, 50 mph62 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 Windham County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (269 policies)
15.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$10.9 millionpaid on 312 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $9.1 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 Windham County

$279,600median home value (Vermont $316,600, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (Vermont 1976, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.7%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; 30,183 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
Cheshire County, NHLow31
Franklin County, MALow20
Windsor CountyLow25
Sullivan County, NHVery Low31
Bennington CountyLow19

Common questions about Windham County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Windham County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Windham County, about $14.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Windham County had?

Windham County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Depression Debby in August 2024.

Is Windham County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 3rd 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 Windham County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Windham 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 Windham County had?

NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Windham County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 5, 2002 near Windham. The weather service has also logged 34 hail reports and 117 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Windham County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Windham County. The strongest was Hurricane Gloria (1985), with winds near 80 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.