Northwest Hills Planning Region
Connecticut — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
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
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 |
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.
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.