Home › Vermont › Windsor County

Windsor County, Vermont

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

Relatively Low overall risk
2nd of 14highest risk in Vermont
$25Mexpected losses a year
25federal declarations
1 in 53homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$19.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$1.3 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.
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate76.7
$19M
Cold waveLow56.1
$1M
Heat waveLow70.0
$1M
HurricaneLow73.0
$880K
TornadoLow30.1
$585K
LightningModerate66.1
$483K
Strong windLow35.8
$403K
EarthquakeVery Low53.9
$380K
Ice stormModerate70.5
$256K
Winter weatherModerate75.1
$187K
HailVery Low25.6
$107K
LandslideModerate90.6
$67K
WildfireVery Low26.9
$13K
AvalancheVery Low55.4
$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

Severe Storm11
Flood9
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 25
Aug 29, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Sep 12, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 3, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 4, 2007Severe 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 30, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1998Severe Ice Storms, Rain, High Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 13, 1996Ice Jams and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 18, 1992Heavy Rains, Ice Jams & 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 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.

5tornadoes
64hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
204damaging thunderstorm winds
55floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 24, 1955F2–0 / 0
Jul 9, 1962F2–0 / 0
Aug 11, 1966F2–0 / 0
Jul 9, 1962F2–0 / 0
Jun 18, 2026EF1Bridgewater0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 28, 2011Flash FloodGoulds Mill$105M
Jul 10, 2023Flash FloodChester$25M
Aug 28, 2011FloodPompanoosuc$23M
Jul 1, 2017Flash FloodStockbridge$3M
Jun 27, 1998Flash FloodNorth Portion$1M
Jul 11, 2007Flash FloodBethel$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.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2011most recent: Irene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 1, 75 mph49 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph44 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 55 mph45 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 1, 75 mph49 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 55 mph45 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph44 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 ›
1.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (488 policies)
28.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$24.8 millionpaid on 511 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $13.8 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 Windsor County

$296,400median home value (Vermont $316,600, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Vermont 1976, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.5%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; 34,846 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
Grafton County, NHModerate38
Rutland CountyLow20
Windham CountyLow22
Sullivan County, NHVery Low31
Bennington CountyLow19
Addison CountyVery Low28
Orange CountyVery Low32

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.