Windsor County, Vermont
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Windsor County, Vermont has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 62% of US counties. It ranks 2nd of 14 counties in Vermont. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $25 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $436 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (20 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2024 (Tropical Depression Debby). About 1 in 53 homes here carry federal flood insurance (488 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $25 million on 511 claims here, including $14 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 Windsor County
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 76.7 | $19M | ||
| Cold wave | 56.1 | $1M | ||
| Heat wave | 70.0 | $1M | ||
| Hurricane | 73.0 | $880K | ||
| Tornado | 30.1 | $585K | ||
| Lightning | 66.1 | $483K | ||
| Strong wind | 35.8 | $403K | ||
| Earthquake | 53.9 | $380K | ||
| Ice storm | 70.5 | $256K | ||
| Winter weather | 75.1 | $187K | ||
| Hail | 25.6 | $107K | ||
| Landslide | 90.6 | $67K | ||
| Wildfire | 26.9 | $13K | ||
| Avalanche | 55.4 | $1K |
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 Windsor County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 25
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 340 storm reports in Windsor County since 1955, with 2 deaths and 1 injury and about $165 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on October 24, 1955.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 1955 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 9, 1962 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 11, 1966 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 9, 1962 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 2026 | EF1 | Bridgewater | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2011 | Flash Flood | Goulds Mill | $105M |
| Jul 10, 2023 | Flash Flood | Chester | $25M |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Flood | Pompanoosuc | $23M |
| Jul 1, 2017 | Flash Flood | Stockbridge | $3M |
| Jun 27, 1998 | Flash Flood | North Portion | $1M |
| Jul 11, 2007 | Flash Flood | Bethel | $750K |
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, 1 hurricane and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Windsor County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Gloria (1985), with top winds near 75 mph about 49 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 1985 | Gloria | Category 1, 75 mph | 49 mi |
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 44 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 28, 1971 | Doria | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 45 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 27, 1985 | Gloria | Category 1, 75 mph | 49 mi |
| Aug 28, 1971 | Doria | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 45 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 44 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 Windsor County
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 Windsor County
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; 34,846 housing units.
Compare in Vermont
All 14 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | Inland flooding | |
| Rutland County | Inland flooding | |
| Washington County | Inland flooding | |
| Windsor County | Inland flooding | |
| Franklin County | Inland flooding | |
| Windham County | Inland flooding | |
| Bennington County | Inland flooding | |
| Addison County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Grafton County, NH | 38 | |
| Rutland County | 20 | |
| Windham County | 22 | |
| Sullivan County, NH | 31 | |
| Bennington County | 19 | |
| Addison County | 28 | |
| Orange County | 32 |
Common questions about Windsor County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Windsor County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Windsor County, about $19.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $1.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Windsor County had?
Windsor County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 20 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Depression Debby in August 2024.
Is Windsor County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 2nd 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 Windsor County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 53 homes in Windsor 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 Windsor County had?
NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Windsor County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on October 24, 1955. The weather service has also logged 64 hail reports and 55 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Windsor County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Windsor County. The strongest was Hurricane Gloria (1985), with winds near 75 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.