riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Northwest Hills Planning Region Disaster Risk

Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

80th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#8

of 9 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

88th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 43% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Northwest Hills Planning Region

Risk Verdict

Northwest Hills Planning Region shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 80th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Flood risk is the dominant hazard for Northwest Hills Planning Region, scoring in the 88th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 87th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (66th), tornado (43th), wildfire (40th).

Preparedness Context

With flood risk as the top concern, Northwest Hills Planning Region residents should review flood insurance needs (standard home insurance does not cover flood damage), know your evacuation zone, and keep important documents waterproofed. Secondary risks such as hurricane also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Northwest Hills Planning Region is notably safer than the average county in Connecticut. Its composite risk score is 8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT?
Northwest Hills Planning Region has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 80th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Northwest Hills Planning Region?
Northwest Hills Planning Region is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (88th percentile), hurricane (87th percentile), earthquake (66th percentile), tornado (43th percentile), wildfire (40th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 88th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Northwest Hills Planning Region risk compare to the Connecticut average?
Northwest Hills Planning Region's composite risk percentile is 80th, compared to the Connecticut state average of 88th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Northwest Hills Planning Region faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Connecticut.
Is Northwest Hills Planning Region at risk for flooding?
Yes, Northwest Hills Planning Region's flooding risk is at the 88th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Northwest Hills Planning Region a safe place to live?
Northwest Hills Planning Region's composite risk score of 80th percentile is below the Connecticut state average of 88th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is flooding at the 88th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region

Connecticut

+4.2

Relatively Moderate

84th percentile

Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region

Connecticut

+9.0

Relatively Moderate

89th percentile

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region

Connecticut

+12.2

Relatively Moderate

92th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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