South Central Connecticut Planning Region

Connecticut — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

High

Composite Risk Score

95.1

National percentile: 95th

South Central Connecticut Planning Region faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.1, 95th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $174M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $174M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Medium Population sensitivity
Community Resilience High Capacity to recover
Population 570K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Hurricane
High $37M/yr
Riverine Flood
High $108M/yr
Ice Storm
Very High $2M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Hurricane High 0.17 / yr $37M
Riverine Flood High 3.25 / yr $108M
Ice Storm Very High 1.97 / yr $2M
Coastal Flood High 4.96 / yr $9M
Lightning High 26.14 / yr $1M
Earthquake Medium 0.00 / yr $7M
Winter Weather High 12.85 / yr $434K
Heat Wave Medium 5.01 / yr $2M
Strong Wind High 3.43 / yr $2M
Tornado Medium 0.17 / yr $3M
Cold Wave Medium 0.92 / yr $2M
Landslide Low 0.16 / yr $5K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $28K
Hail Low 2.27 / yr $155K
Drought Very Low 0.93 / yr $9K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for South Central Connecticut Planning Region?

South Central Connecticut Planning Region has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.1 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 95th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in South Central Connecticut Planning Region?

The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $37M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $108M EAL), Ice Storm (Very High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does South Central Connecticut Planning Region compare to other Connecticut counties?

South Central Connecticut Planning Region ranks #3 of 9 Connecticut counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.

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. South Central Connecticut Planning Region's $174M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.