Western Connecticut Planning Region, CT
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Western Connecticut Planning Region's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties. No federal disaster declarations are on record for this county.
Western Connecticut Planning Region's highest-rated hazards are inland flooding, strong wind, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
No federal disaster declarations on record for Western Connecticut Planning Region as of September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 46.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 98.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively High | 89.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 92 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 84 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 69.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively High | 97 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 41.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 97.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 94.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 94.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 65.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 78.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 49.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 89 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 24.6 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Western Connecticut Planning Region ranks in the 47th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 47th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 40th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 31st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 78th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 50th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 25th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 26th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 57.2% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Western Connecticut Planning Region?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut are inland flooding, strong wind, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
How does Western Connecticut Planning Region's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Westchester County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Putnam County, NY has the lowest (Very Low). Western Connecticut Planning Region is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Western Connecticut Planning Region's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Western Connecticut Planning Region's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Western Connecticut Planning Region's composite score of 96 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 96% of US counties.