Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · CT
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 89th
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.6, 89th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $83M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region carries a medium composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 88.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 89th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at High risk — $22M in expected annual loss and about 0.19 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $52M in expected annual loss and about 2.25 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $83M in expected annual loss for a population of 280K.
Beyond physical exposure, Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very 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, Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region ranks #6 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | High | 0.19 / yr | $22M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.25 / yr | $52M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.74 / yr | $395K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 13.34 / yr | $200K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.46 / yr | $12K |
| Lightning | Medium | 23.17 / yr | $677K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.46 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.72 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 1.63 / yr | $751K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.16 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Low | 1.75 / yr | $242K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.90 / yr | $814K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $28K |
| Drought | Low | 1.09 / yr | $36K |
| 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 Southeastern Connecticut 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 Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region?
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 89th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (High, $22M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $52M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region compare to other Connecticut counties?
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region ranks #6 of 9 Connecticut counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region had?
FEMA's declaration records (1953–present) list no county-level major disaster declarations for Southeastern Connecticut 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. Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region's $83M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.