Windham County, VT Environment & Hazard Risk

• LandslideRelatively Low$33.3K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.6 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively Low$987K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 16 years
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$262K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.2 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$2.1M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.8 events a year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$369K/yr expected annual loss, about 23 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$288K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,071 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$65.8K/yr expected annual loss, about 23 events a year
• AvalancheVery Low$417/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• TornadoRelatively Low$914K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
• Heat waveVery Low$221K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.3 events a year
• HailVery Low$136K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.6 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Low$230K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.3 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$8,499/yr expected annual loss, about once every 56,749 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, drought, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

269 of 21,012 (1.3%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

749

Insured in high-risk zones

117 (16%)

Flood claims since 1978

312

Claims paid since 1978

$10.9M

• Winter Weather191
• Winter Storm148
• Thunderstorm Wind143
• Strong Wind98
• Heavy Snow69
• Cold/Wind Chill69
• Flash Flood68 · 1 death
• Flood60
• High Wind38
• Heat37

• Flash Flood08/28/2011

  Whitingham, Windham County

  1 death

  What happened

  Route 100 in Windham County was closed due to flooding and wash outs. Portions of Route 100 remained closed after the flood waters receded due to significant damage. The North Branch Deerfield River runs along a portion of Route 100 from the Mount Snow area to Wilmington. Along Dover Road, one house was destroyed and floated down the North Branch Deerfield River and other houses were destroyed or significantly damage. Much of the road was reported washed away. ||A woman drowned when the car she was in became trapped by flood waters from the North Branch Deerfield River in Wilmington. The time of her death is unknown.

• Lightning07/02/2014

  Guilford, Windham County

  7 injured

  What happened

  Seven fire fighters responding to a structure fire were struck by lightning during a thunderstorm in Guilford. Although all seven were sent to a hospital with minor injuries, no serious injuries were reported.

• Flash Flood07/30/2021

  Athens, Windham County

  1 injured, $600K damage

  What happened

  The Town of Westminster suffered major impact due to flash flooding. Roads around the town were disintegrated making them impassable along with at least one culvert washed away. There were reports of mudslides and standing water on other roads around the town. One home off Henwood Hill Road is uninhabitable when rock and gravel and debris was deposited against the foundation and flood water gouged a new riverbed next to the house, where a large culvert had been. Farther up the road, severe washouts resulted in one of two cases of cars to end up in a massive ditch. An out-of-state driver suffered a concussion after ending up in a gouged-out ditch along a portion of Orchard Hill Road.

• Flash Flood07/30/2021

  Newfane, Windham County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  The Town of Putney suffered major impact due to flash flooding. Numerous roads were closed throughout the town with Putney Mountain, Holland Hill, Pine Banks and River Road the hardest hit. A culvert collapsed on Putney Mountain Road with additional areas along the road washed out. A large section of River Road was washed away. Approximately 300 individuals were reported isolated individuals due to main road washouts. The Putney General Store on Kimball Hill reported damage due to flooding.

• Flash Flood07/30/2021

  Bellows Falls, Windham County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  The Town of Rockingham suffered significant damage to roads and infrastructure due to flash flooding. Numerous roads were closed around town including Ski Bowl, Leach, Rockingham Hill, Hartley Hill, Pleasant Valley, Paradise, Hall Bridge, Corey Hill and Darby Hill. Residential damage was also reported. The Laurel Avenue-Hyde Hill neighborhood in Bellows Falls was blocked by flood debris, sending several feet of water into the area, leaving behind lots of mud.

• Flash Flood06/13/1996

  Grafton, Windham County

  $1M damage

  What happened

  A very moist and unstable atmosphere remained over Vermont on June 13. This produced a second straight day of torrential rains from training thunderstorms in the Grafton area, which resulted in disastrous flash flooding. The governor declared Grafton a disaster area and the Vermont National Guard was called in to assist in repairing roads. Grafton was completely isolated with all roads made impassable by washouts. Routes 35 and 121 were washed out in several sections. The Saxtons River reached its third highest stage. A 250 pound propane gas tank was washed away. Several bridges were severely damaged. Fourteen homes were affected by the flooding with three sustaining severe damage. The worst damage occurred at the Bahric House which dated from the mid 1800s. Rocks and mud were piled up to the back windows on the main floor.

• Brattleboro Water DeptServes 12,200 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Winhall Stratton F D 1Serves 6,200 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+27 monitoring or reporting
• Bellows Falls Water DeptServes 4,000 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Chimney HillServes 2,594 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+185 monitoring or reporting
• Town of Wilmington Water SystemServes 1,400 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Putney Water SystemServes 1,300 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Timber Creek Coa INCServes 1,116 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• Cold Brook Fd Base AreaServes 761 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting