States › Vermont › Washington County

Washington County, Vermont

Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.

FIPS 50023 · 59,969 residents (2021) · 687 sq mi · dominant hazard Winter

Hail · 64Tornado · 0Flood · 84Wind · 229Winter · 317

Washington County within Vermont. Dots: HailFloodWind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 1 Oct 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.

Between 1950 and 2026, NCEI recorded 748 storm events in Washington County, Vermont, led by winter storms and snow.

That is 108.9 events per 100 square miles, in line with the Vermont figure of 119.4, and 124.7 per 10,000 residents against 170.5 statewide.

16 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 4 deaths and 7 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $221M and crop damage at $6.9M.

FEMA has designated the county in 33 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (major disaster, 20 Aug 2024).

National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 1,233 claims since 1978, of which 990 were paid, totalling $50M (about $50K per paid claim). FEMA counts 557 residential flood policies in force.

FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively Low" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively Low" ($22M a year across 18 hazards).

14 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 0 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.

16events, last 12 monthsto 30 Jun 2026

748events since 19504 deaths, 7 injuries recorded

33disaster declarationslast 20 Aug 2024

1,233NFIP flood claims$50M paid

Compared with Vermont and the United States

Measure	Washington County	Vermont	US
Recorded events since 1950	748	11,007	1,977,440
Events per 100 square miles	108.9	119.4	56.0
Events per 10,000 residents	124.7	170.5	59.6
Events in the last 12 months	16	353	62,008
Deaths recorded by NCEI	4	62	26,435
Property damage (NCEI estimates)	$221M	$1.7B	$575B
NFIP claims per 1,000 residents	20.6	5.8	8.1
Average paid NFIP claim	$50K	$40K	$43K
Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years	83.3	37.4	16.1

County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.

Events by decade

Hail: 2Wind: 3

Wind: 3

Hail: 6Wind: 13

Hail: 6Flood: 12Wind: 27Winter: 53Heat: 2Cold: 4Lightning: 3Fog: 1

Hail: 15Flood: 26Wind: 56Winter: 146Heat: 2Cold: 14Lightning: 2Other: 7

Hail: 34Flood: 31Wind: 80Winter: 61Heat: 3Cold: 3Lightning: 3

Hail: 1Flood: 15Wind: 47Winter: 57Heat: 1Cold: 9

01950s51960s31970s191980s1081990s2682000s2152010s1302020s

Recorded events in Washington County by decade and hazard group. HailFloodWindWinterHeatColdLightningFogOther NCEI recorded only tornadoes, hail and thunderstorm wind before 1996.

Trend: 457 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 269 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.

Events by type

Winter317

Wind229

Flood84

Hail64

Cold30

Heat8

Lightning8

Other7

Fog1

Hazard	Events	Deaths	Share of state's events
■ Winter	317	1	6.7%	detail
■ Wind	229	—	6.7%	detail
■ Flood	84	1	9.2%	detail
■ Hail	64	—	7.7%	detail
■ Cold	30	—	4.6%
■ Heat	8	1	4.8%
■ Lightning	8	1	8.5%
■ Other	7	—	9.3%
■ Fog	1	—	9.1%

Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.

Largest recorded events

Date	Event type	Group	Magnitude	Property damage	Crop damage	Deaths	Injuries	Geography
11 Jul 2023	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$100M	—	1	—	County
12 Jun 1996	Lightning	Lightning	—	—	—	1	1	County
1 Dec 1997	Heavy Snow	Winter	—	$20K	—	1	—	Forecast zone
1 Jul 2018	Heat	Heat	—	—	—	1	—	Forecast zone
28 Aug 2011	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$60M	$2.5M	—	—	County
15 Nov 1999	Winter Storm	Winter	—	$15K	—	—	3	Forecast zone
28 Aug 2011	Flood	Flood	—	$15M	$2.5M	—	—	County
25 Nov 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Wind	98 mph	$20K	—	—	1	County
6 Jun 1999	Lightning	Lightning	—	—	—	—	1	County
4 Jul 2013	Lightning	Lightning	—	—	—	—	1	County
10 Jul 2023	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$10M	—	—	—	County
27 Jun 1998	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$5.0M	$200K	—	—	County
26 May 2011	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$5.0M	—	—	—	County
10 Jul 2024	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$2.5M	—	—	—	County
10 Jul 2023	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$2.0M	—	—	—	County
11 Jul 2007	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$1.5M	—	—	—	County
17 Dec 2000	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$1.0M	—	—	—	County
26 Apr 2011	Flash Flood	Flood	—	$1.0M	—	—	—	County
26 May 2011	Flood	Flood	—	$1.0M	—	—	—	County
17 Mar 2012	Heat	Heat	—	—	$1.0M	—	—	Forecast zone

Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.

Federal disaster declarations

Declared	Number	Type	Incident	Title	Programs
20 Aug 2024	DR-4810	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides	Individual assistance, Public assistance
8 Aug 2024	EM-3609	Emergency	Tropical Storm	Tropical Depression Debby	Public assistance
14 Jul 2023	DR-4720	Major disaster	Flood	Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides	Individual assistance, Public assistance
10 Jul 2023	EM-3595	Emergency	Flood	Flooding	Public assistance
20 Mar 2023	DR-4695	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storm And Flooding	Public assistance
22 Aug 2021	EM-3567	Emergency	Hurricane	Tropical Storm Henri	Public assistance
8 Apr 2020	DR-4532	Major disaster	Biological	Covid-19 Pandemic	Individual assistance, Public assistance
13 Mar 2020	EM-3437	Emergency	Biological	Covid-19	Public assistance
17 Jan 2020	DR-4474	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storm And Flooding	Public assistance
14 Jun 2019	DR-4445	Major disaster	Flood	Severe Storms And Flooding	Public assistance
2 Jan 2018	DR-4356	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storm And Flooding	Public assistance
16 Aug 2017	DR-4330	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storms And Flooding	Public assistance
3 Feb 2015	DR-4207	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Winter Storm	Public assistance
11 Jun 2014	DR-4178	Major disaster	Flood	Severe Storms And Flooding	Public assistance
2 Aug 2013	DR-4140	Major disaster	Flood	Severe Storms And Flooding	Public assistance
8 Nov 2011	DR-4043	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storms And Flooding	Public assistance
1 Sep 2011	DR-4022	Major disaster	Hurricane	Tropical Storm Irene	Individual assistance, Public assistance
29 Aug 2011	EM-3338	Emergency	Hurricane	Hurricane Irene	Public assistance
8 Jul 2011	DR-4001	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storms And Flooding	Individual assistance, Public assistance
15 Jun 2011	DR-1995	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storms And Flooding	Public assistance
12 Sep 2008	DR-1790	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storms And Flooding	Public assistance
3 Aug 2007	DR-1715	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storms And Flooding	Public assistance
10 Nov 1999	DR-1307	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Tropical Storm Floyd	Public assistance
30 Jun 1998	DR-1228	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Severe Storms And Flooding	Individual assistance, Public assistance
25 Jul 1997	DR-1184	Major disaster	Flood	Excessive Rainfall, High Winds, And Flooding	Individual assistance, Public assistance
13 Feb 1996	DR-1101	Major disaster	Flood	Ice Jams And Flooding	Public assistance
16 Aug 1995	DR-1063	Major disaster	Severe Storm	Excessive Rainfall, Flooding	Individual assistance, Public assistance
18 Mar 1992	DR-938	Major disaster	Flood	Heavy Rains, Ice Jams & Flooding	Individual assistance, Public assistance
25 Jul 1990	DR-875	Major disaster	Flood	Severe Storms & Flooding	Public assistance
11 Sep 1989	DR-840	Major disaster	Flood	Severe Storms & Flooding	Public assistance
18 Jun 1984	DR-712	Major disaster	Flood	Severe Storms & Flooding	Individual assistance, Public assistance
5 Aug 1976	DR-518	Major disaster	Flood	Severe Storms, High Winds & Flooding	Individual assistance, Public assistance
6 Jul 1973	DR-397	Major disaster	Flood	Severe Storms, Flooding, & Landslides	Individual assistance, Public assistance

Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.

Flood insurance claims

197820022026

NFIP claims by year of loss in Washington County, 1978 to 2026 (hover for the amount paid).

Claims since 19781,233

Paid claims990

Total paid$50M

Average paid claim$50K

Repetitive-loss properties11620 severe

Residential policies in force5572.3% of 23,905 structures

Year of loss	Claims	Paid claims	Amount paid	Average paid
2024	112	94	$4,593,461	$48,867
2023	340	302	$23,365,547	$77,369
2021	1	0	$0	—
2019	8	3	$38,918	$12,973
2018	1	1	$1,180	$1,180
2017	2	0	$0	—
2016	1	0	$0	—
2015	28	23	$291,998	$12,696
2014	2	1	$17,338	$17,338
2013	5	3	$12,889	$4,296
2011	453	369	$18,800,177	$50,949
2010	2	0	$0	—
2008	3	1	$40,714	$40,714
2007	22	18	$141,986	$7,888
2006	1	1	$9,521	$9,521
2005	2	1	$8,105	$8,105
2004	1	0	$0	—
2000	20	13	$307,409	$23,647
1998	15	11	$308,773	$28,070
1997	3	3	$9,609	$3,203
1996	10	8	$55,281	$6,910
1995	3	3	$39,827	$13,276
1994	1	0	$0	—
1993	2	0	$0	—
1992	72	57	$1,453,571	$25,501

OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).

National Risk Index

Overall riskRelatively Lowscore 52.2 of 100

Expected annual loss$22MRelatively Low

Social vulnerabilityVery Low

Community resilienceVery High

Hazard (NRI)	Risk rating	Expected annual loss
Inland flooding	Relatively Low	$17,631,361
Cold wave	Relatively Low	$1,020,212
Lightning	Relatively Moderate	$679,616
Heat wave	Relatively Low	$636,827
Hurricane	Relatively Low	$601,321
Earthquake	Very Low	$403,906
Landslide	Relatively Moderate	$366,339
Strong wind	Relatively Low	$285,730
Winter weather	Relatively Moderate	$275,460
Tornado	Very Low	$158,150
Ice storm	Relatively Low	$114,017
Hail	Very Low	$49,381
Wildfire	Very Low	$9,205
Avalanche	Very Low	$537

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.

Hurricane and tropical storm passes

Tracks within 100 miles14

Tracks within 50 miles7

Hurricane strength within 50 miles0

Storm	Year	Closest approach	Max wind while within 100 mi
Isaias	2020	31 mi	52 mph
Irene	2011	26 mi	52 mph
David	1979	87 mi	46 mph
Doria	1971	52 mi	52 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1968	24 mi	52 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1949	33 mi	52 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1938	65 mi	69 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1934	99 mi	46 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1929	41 mi	58 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1923	43 mi	40 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1899	56 mi	52 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1893	90 mi	69 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1893	94 mi	58 mph
Unnamed Atlantic storm	1866	25 mi	46 mph

HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.

ZIP codes with flood claims

05602 427
05641 384
05676 199
05663 56
05667 36
05660 34
05673 30
05674 16
05633 12
05658 11
05601 7
05681 6
05647 5

ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.

Questions and answers

How often does it hail in Washington County, VT?

NCEI records 64 hail events in Washington County since 1950, in 24 different years; that is about 0.8 recorded events a year. 8 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.

Has Washington County had a tornado?

NCEI records no tornado in Washington County since 1950.

When was the last federal disaster declaration for Washington County?

20 Aug 2024: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides, a major disaster declaration for severe storm. The county appears in 33 declarations since 1953.

How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Washington County, and how much was paid?

1,233 NFIP claims since 1978, 990 of them paid, for $50M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.

Is Washington County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?

FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively Low" for overall risk, "Relatively Low" for expected annual loss, "Very Low" for social vulnerability and "Very High" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.

How does Washington County compare with the rest of Vermont?

108.9 recorded events per 100 square miles against 119.4 statewide, and 20.6 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 5.8. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.

Provenance

Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 1 Oct 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 1 Oct 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.