Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CT
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 80th
Northwest Hills Planning Region faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 79.6, 80th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $54M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Northwest Hills Planning Region at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 79.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 80th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. 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 Medium risk — $42M in expected annual loss and about 3.54 events per year; hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 0.11 events per year; and landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $30K in expected annual loss and about 1.15 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $54M in expected annual loss for a population of 112K.
Beyond physical exposure, Northwest Hills Planning Region has a very 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, Northwest Hills Planning Region ranks #8 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 3.54 / yr | $42M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.11 / yr | $6M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.15 / yr | $30K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.90 / yr | $563K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $840K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 17.39 / yr | $86K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $743 |
| Cold Wave | Low | 2.63 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.89 / yr | $678K |
| Lightning | Low | 27.76 / yr | $280K |
| Hail | Low | 2.90 / yr | $276K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.25 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Low | 4.57 / yr | $93K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $34K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 4.39 / yr | $184K |
| Coastal Flood | 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 Northwest Hills 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 Northwest Hills Planning Region?
Northwest Hills Planning Region has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 79.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 80th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Northwest Hills Planning Region?
The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (Medium, $42M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $6M EAL), Landslide (Low, $30K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Northwest Hills Planning Region compare to other Connecticut counties?
Northwest Hills Planning Region ranks #8 of 9 Connecticut counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Northwest Hills Planning Region had?
FEMA's declaration records (1953–present) list no county-level major disaster declarations for Northwest Hills 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. Northwest Hills Planning Region's $54M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.