State profile · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Natural Disasters in Vermont
Vermont faces a low level of natural disaster risk, with 13 FEMA disaster declarations on record. The dominant threat is flood, and severe weather has caused $244.0M in combined property and crop damage. NOAA storm event data shows 4,198 recorded weather events resulting in 24 fatalities, figures the state uses to prioritize disaster-preparedness planning.
- 13
- FEMA declarations
- 4,198
- NOAA storm events
- 24
- Storm fatalities
- $244.0M
- Property + crop damage
The Vermont risk picture
0 of Vermont's 14 counties, 0%, carry a FEMA "high-risk" National Risk Index rating, with cold wave the single largest driver of expected annual loss statewide. Vermont has 10 FEMA disaster declarations that reached full Major Disaster status, triggering federal individual and public assistance, and its NOAA-tracked storms have caused 9 injuries statewide.
- 0%
- of counties rated high-risk by FEMA National Risk Index
- 13
- FEMA disaster declarations on record
- $244.0M
- in tracked property + crop damage
FEMA's National Risk Index and NOAA's Storm Events Database measure different things: modeled long-run risk vs. observed severe-weather events. See the methodology for how they relate.
How does Vermont compare?
Vermont vs. every U.S. state
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
13 Top 50% higher than 50% of 56 states and territories
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more states and territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-07-25
How disaster-prone is Vermont?
FEMA disaster declarations
Vermont (VT) sits at a low level of federally recognized natural-disaster risk, with 13 FEMA disaster declarations on record, including 10 Major Disaster declarations (DR) that triggered full federal individual and public assistance. The dominant declaration type is Flood, followed by Severe Storm (4), Tropical Storm (1), Hurricane (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 storm events & FEMA National Risk Index
NOAA's Storm Events Database adds the near-term severe-weather lens. Between 2015 and 2025, Vermont recorded 4,198 individual storm events, causing 24 fatalities and 9 injuries, with combined property and crop damage estimated at $244.0M. The most frequent event types in the state are Winter Weather (1,093 events), Thunderstorm Wind (816 events), Winter Storm (788 events). Across the state's 14 analyzed counties, FEMA's own National Risk Index flags 0 as high-risk, with an average county Risk Index score (FEMA's own formula, distinct from our Risk Score tool below) of 36.4/100.
Flood exposure & where to dig deeper
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. The highest-Expected-Annual-Loss hazard across the state is Cold Wave, estimated at $0.0B annually. 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 Vermont
Storm Events by Type
NOAA storm event data for Vermont (2015-2025).
| Event Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | 1,093 | 7 | 0 | $3.3M |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 816 | 3 | 6 | $8.5M |
| Winter Storm | 788 | 2 | 0 | $5.1M |
| Strong Wind | 418 | 0 | 0 | $6.2M |
| Flash Flood | 182 | 5 | 1 | $191.6M |
| Cold/Wind Chill | 159 | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| Hail | 143 | 0 | 0 | $111.0K |
| Heat | 122 | 4 | 0 | $0 |
| High Wind | 120 | 2 | 0 | $11.4M |
| Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | 118 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Flood | 109 | 0 | 0 | $6.7M |
| Heavy Snow | 33 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Drought | 32 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Frost/Freeze | 25 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Lightning | 11 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| Ice Storm | 9 | 0 | 0 | $25.0K |
| Tornado | 7 | 0 | 2 | $145.0K |
| Excessive Heat | 4 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Blizzard | 4 | 0 | 0 | $75.0K |
| Heavy Rain | 2 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
Storm Events by Year
| Year | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 756 | 0 | 0 | $4.1M |
| 2024 | 350 | 3 | 0 | $26.6M |
| 2023 | 351 | 2 | 1 | $147.5M |
| 2022 | 742 | 4 | 4 | $11.2M |
| 2021 | 350 | 2 | 3 | $7.8M |
| 2020 | 231 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2019 | 317 | 2 | 0 | $9.2M |
| 2018 | 311 | 4 | 0 | $5.3M |
| 2017 | 346 | 0 | 1 | $14.5M |
| 2016 | 210 | 2 | 0 | $3.9M |
| 2015 | 234 | 5 | 0 | $3.6M |
FEMA Disaster Declarations
13 unique disaster declarations in Vermont.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4826 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2024-09-26 |
| 4816 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2024-09-11 |
| 4810 | SEVERE STORM, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2024-08-20 |
| 3609 | TROPICAL DEPRESSION DEBBY | EM | Tropical Storm | 2024-08-08 |
| 4770 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | DR | Severe Storm | 2024-04-19 |
| 4762 | SEVERE STORM AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2024-03-02 |
| 4744 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2023-10-06 |
| 4720 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2023-07-14 |
| 3595 | FLOODING | EM | Flood | 2023-07-10 |
| 4695 | SEVERE STORM AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2023-03-20 |
| 4621 | SEVERE STORM AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2021-09-29 |
| 3567 | TROPICAL STORM HENRI | EM | Hurricane | 2021-08-22 |
| 4532 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-04-08 |
FEMA National Risk Index
Composite natural hazard risk scores for Vermont counties based on FEMA's National Risk Index.
Avg County Risk Score
36.4/100
High Risk Counties
0
of 14 counties
Top Hazard by EAL
Cold Wave
$0.0B annual loss est.
Top 5 Hazards by Expected Annual Loss
#1
Cold Wave
$17.5M EAL
#2
Hurricane
$7.7M EAL
#3
Earthquake
$6.1M EAL
#4
Lightning
$6.0M EAL
#5
Heat Wave
$5.7M EAL
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) EAL = Expected Annual Loss. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
Counties in Vermont
14 counties with FEMA disaster data.
| # | County | Disasters | Major |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essex | 10 | 7 |
| 2 | Orleans | 10 | 7 |
| 3 | Lamoille | 10 | 7 |
| 4 | Orange | 8 | 5 |
| 5 | Chittenden | 8 | 5 |
| 6 | Caledonia | 7 | 4 |
| 7 | Addison | 7 | 4 |
| 8 | Washington | 7 | 4 |
| 9 | Windham | 7 | 4 |
| 10 | Franklin | 7 | 4 |
| 11 | Grand Isle | 6 | 3 |
| 12 | Rutland | 6 | 3 |
| 13 | Windsor | 6 | 3 |
| 14 | Bennington | 6 | 3 |
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 Vermont?
How many FEMA disaster declarations has Vermont had?
What severe weather events are most common in Vermont?
What is the disaster risk level for Vermont?
Which counties in Vermont 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 Vermont
Essex alone accounts for 77% of Vermont's FEMA disaster declarations, out of 14 counties tracked statewide.
- Risk is uneven within the state - Essex and Orleans carry the most declarations. Check the county where you live. Browse counties
- See how Vermont 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.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, PlainHazard tracks 2,791 U.S. counties in FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries dataset, refreshed as of 2026-07-25. 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 national statistics report, or report a data error.