Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CT
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 97th
Capitol Planning Region faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.4, 97th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $302M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Capitol Planning Region is high, with a National Risk Index score of 97.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 97th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $240M in expected annual loss and about 3.54 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $9M in expected annual loss and about 6.67 events per year; and ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 2.50 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $302M in expected annual loss for a population of 975K.
Beyond physical exposure, Capitol Planning Region has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
Among 9 Connecticut counties, Capitol Planning Region ranks #1 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.54 / yr | $240M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.67 / yr | $9M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 2.50 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | High | 1.74 / yr | $12M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $11M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.15 / yr | $15M |
| Lightning | High | 26.49 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | High | 0.33 / yr | $8M |
| Landslide | Medium | 0.80 / yr | $44K |
| Winter Weather | High | 15.91 / yr | $317K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 2.23 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.56 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $76K |
| Drought | Low | 3.47 / yr | $193K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 3.69 / yr | $14K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
FEMA's declaration records (1953–present) list no county-level federal disaster declarations for Capitol Planning Region. Statewide emergency declarations may still have applied.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Capitol Planning Region?
Capitol Planning Region has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.4 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 97th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Capitol Planning Region?
The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (High, $240M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $9M EAL), Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Capitol Planning Region compare to other Connecticut counties?
Capitol Planning Region ranks #1 of 9 Connecticut counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Capitol Planning Region had?
FEMA's declaration records (1953–present) list no county-level major disaster declarations for Capitol Planning Region. Statewide emergency declarations may still have applied.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Capitol Planning Region's $302M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.