Natural Disasters in Westerly, RI

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

64.0

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

73.9

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

12.2

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

97.1

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Hurricane82.2Coastal Flood76.2Ice Storm70.8

Hazard	Risk Score
Hurricane	82.2
Coastal Flood	76.2
Ice Storm	70.8
Earthquake	67.3
Lightning	65.5
Heat Wave	46.4
Drought	43.5
Winter Weather	42.2
Landslide	37.6
Strong Wind	30.0
Tornado	29.4
Cold Wave	24.7
Wildfire	23.1
Hail	2.8

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Severe Storm

Mar 2024

Most Common Type

Hurricane

8 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Mar 20, 2024	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORM AND FLOODING
Mar 20, 2024	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Apr 14, 2023	Fire	QUEENS RIVER FIRE
May 12, 2022	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Aug 21, 2021	Hurricane	HURRICANE HENRI
Mar 30, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Apr 3, 2015	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Mar 22, 2013	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Nov 3, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Sep 3, 2011	Hurricane	TROPICAL STORM IRENE
Aug 27, 2011	Hurricane	HURRICANE IRENE
Mar 30, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 29, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Sep 19, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Feb 17, 2005	Snowstorm	RECORD SNOW
Mar 27, 2003	Snowstorm	SNOW
Jan 24, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)
Mar 16, 1993	Snowstorm	BLIZZARDS, HIGH WINDS & RECORD SNOWFALL

Showing 20 of 25 declarations

Individual Assistance

Source: FEMA Housing Assistance

Total IA Registrations

2,861

Total IA Distributed

$4,350,727

Repair/Replace

$2,721,782

Rental Assistance

$799,598

Disaster	Registrations	Total IA $	Avg Damage
DR-4085	8	N/A	—
DR-1894	1,584	$2,766,763	$1,866
DR-1904	516	$656,827	$1,542
DR-4089	280	$250,309	$5,348
DR-4505	46	$249,576	—
DR-4087	251	$135,693	$1,723
DR-4766	43	$124,809	$1,238
DR-4500	24	$120,639	—
DR-4023	85	$24,040	$664
DR-4765	15	$20,997	$1,138

Showing top 10 of 12 disasters by IA amount

Individual and household assistance for homeowners and renters affected by federally declared disasters.

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

2,397

Total Claims Paid

$51,861,701

Avg Claim Payout

$21,636

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$21,473,431

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

528

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4505	Biological	51	$10,446,015
DR-4089	Hurricane	123	$4,168,912
DR-1894	Severe Storm(s)	187	$2,705,086
DR-4107	Severe Storm(s)	46	$927,724
DR-4766	Severe Storm(s)	24	$799,432
DR-4027	Hurricane	50	$699,834
DR-4212	Severe Storm(s)	19	$618,111
DR-4653	Winter Storm	13	$597,908
DR-3203	Snow	15	$510,411

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$4,554,042

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.58

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	8	$170,927
202.2: Elevation of Private Structures - Coastal	4	$1,364,831
403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts	4	$258,474
601.1: Generators	3	$94,391
91.3: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE	2	$32,875

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Westerly has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, coastal flood, ice storm. The area has had 25 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (8 declarations). 2,397 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $21,473,431 in public assistance recovery funding. $4,350,727 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 34 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.