State profile · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Natural disaster risk in Connecticut
Connecticut faces a low level of natural disaster risk, with 7 FEMA disaster declarations on record. The dominant threat is severe storm, and severe weather has caused $81.5M in combined property and crop damage. NOAA storm event data shows 2,829 recorded weather events resulting in 16 fatalities, figures the state uses to prioritize disaster-preparedness planning.
- 7
- FEMA declarations
- 2,829
- NOAA storm events
- 16
- Storm fatalities
- $81.5M
- Property + crop damage
How disaster-prone is Connecticut?
Connecticut (CT) sits at a low level of federally recognized natural-disaster risk, with 7 FEMA disaster declarations on record, including 3 Major Disaster declarations (DR) that triggered full federal individual and public assistance. The dominant declaration type is Severe Storm, followed by Hurricane (3), Fire (1). Declaration counts at the state level reflect the cumulative federal footprint: large multi-county events count once per state, but repeat hazard patterns across decades are visible in the breakdown below.
NOAA's Storm Events Database adds the near-term severe-weather lens. Between 2015 and 2025, Connecticut recorded 2,829 individual storm events, causing 16 fatalities and 39 injuries, with combined property and crop damage estimated at $81.5M. The most frequent event types in the state are Thunderstorm Wind (1,019 events), Winter Weather (347 events), Flash Flood (332 events).
NFIP claims data is limited or absent for this state in the current extract, which usually indicates low flood-policy penetration rather than zero flood risk. Drill into individual counties for localized risk, read FEMA's hazard-specific briefings, and review insurance and flood-zone designations, state-level averages can mask sharp county-to-county differences in exposure and resilience.
Disaster Types in Connecticut
Storm Events by Type
NOAA storm event data for Connecticut (2015-2025).
| Event Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 1,019 | 7 | 16 | $9.2M |
| Winter Weather | 347 | 1 | 3 | $162.7K |
| Flash Flood | 332 | 3 | 0 | $9.3M |
| Heavy Snow | 165 | 0 | 0 | $53.0K |
| Strong Wind | 152 | 1 | 2 | $2.3M |
| High Wind | 130 | 1 | 3 | $2.5M |
| Winter Storm | 114 | 1 | 1 | $48.0K |
| Hail | 108 | 0 | 0 | $80.0K |
| Heat | 90 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Flood | 78 | 1 | 0 | $808.0K |
| Lightning | 50 | 0 | 14 | $1.4M |
| Drought | 50 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Cold/Wind Chill | 31 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Tornado | 31 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| Excessive Heat | 26 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Tropical Storm | 22 | 1 | 0 | $54.3M |
| Coastal Flood | 21 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Blizzard | 21 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | 17 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Ice Storm | 7 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
Storm Events by Year
| Year | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 414 | 0 | 8 | $444.9K |
| 2024 | 288 | 4 | 7 | $1.2M |
| 2023 | 240 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
| 2022 | 190 | 0 | 2 | $185.5K |
| 2021 | 303 | 1 | 2 | $7.7M |
| 2020 | 238 | 1 | 1 | $56.4M |
| 2019 | 240 | 3 | 2 | $803.0K |
| 2018 | 335 | 3 | 6 | $7.9M |
| 2017 | 201 | 2 | 4 | $1.4M |
| 2016 | 210 | 0 | 4 | $1.7M |
| 2015 | 170 | 2 | 3 | $1.5M |
FEMA Disaster Declarations
7 unique disaster declarations in Connecticut.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5542 | HAWTHORNE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2024-10-24 |
| 4820 | SEVERE STORM, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2024-09-20 |
| 3612 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | EM | Severe Storm | 2024-08-21 |
| 3604 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND A POTENTIAL DAM BREACH | EM | Severe Storm | 2024-01-13 |
| 4629 | REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA | DR | Hurricane | 2021-10-30 |
| 3564 | HURRICANE HENRI | EM | Hurricane | 2021-08-22 |
| 4580 | TROPICAL STORM ISAIAS | DR | Hurricane | 2021-01-12 |
Counties in Connecticut
8 counties with FEMA disaster data.
| County | Disasters | Major | Top Hazard | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven(in (P)MSA 1160,5480,8880) | 6 | 3 | Hurricane | 2025 |
| Fairfield(in PMSA 1160,1930,5760,8040) | 5 | 3 | Hurricane | 2024 |
| Litchfield(in (P)MSA 1170,1930,3280,8880) | 5 | 3 | Hurricane | 2024 |
| New London(in (P)MSA 3280,5520) | 4 | 2 | Hurricane | 2024 |
| Hartford(in PMSA 1170,3280,5440) | 3 | 1 | Hurricane | 2025 |
| Middlesex(in (P)MSA 3280,5020,5480) | 3 | 2 | Hurricane | 2022 |
| Windham | 2 | 1 | Hurricane | 2021 |
| Tolland | 2 | 1 | Hurricane | 2021 |
Disaster Preparedness Guides
Learn more about natural disaster risk, preparedness, and data interpretation.
Preparing for Natural Disasters
Essential steps to prepare your household for the most common natural hazards.
Hazard Risk by Region
How natural disaster risk varies across different US regions.
Climate Change & Disasters
How climate trends are changing the frequency and severity of natural disasters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What natural disasters affect Connecticut?
How many FEMA disaster declarations has Connecticut had?
What severe weather events are most common in Connecticut?
What is the disaster risk level for Connecticut?
Which counties in Connecticut have the most disaster declarations?
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations, NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025) FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations, NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025) For informational purposes only
What this means for Connecticut
Connecticut carries a low federal disaster profile - 7 FEMA declarations and 2,829 recorded storm events, led by severe storm.
- Risk is uneven within the state - New Haven(in (P)MSA 1160,5480,8880) and Fairfield(in PMSA 1160,1930,5760,8040) carry the most declarations. Check the county where you live. Browse counties
- See how Connecticut ranks against other states for disaster frequency and damage. State rankings
- Learn what FEMA declarations, NRI risk scores, and damage figures do and don't tell you. Disaster-data guide
Historical declaration counts and damage totals describe past federal response, not a forecast. For current threats, follow the National Weather Service and local officials; in an emergency call 911.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with FEMA → · Verify with FEMA NRI → · Verify with NOAA →
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on FEMA federal disaster data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.