Enter any address in Bennington County, Vermont to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates the flood character in Bennington County. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 48 flood events and 30 flash flood events, alongside one tropical storm. For example, in July 2023, widespread heavy rainfall of 2.50 to over 6 inches across the southern Green Mountains led to significant areal and flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $15,108 and an average water depth of 5.0 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have also seen substantial claims, averaging $7,707 with a notable average water depth of 6.4 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X_SHADED, and those in areas with less defined flood risk (Zone X and X_UNSHADED) should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
36 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Bennington County, Vermont has recorded 79 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 30 flash floods and 48 river or area floods. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 8, 2024 |
| Flooding | Flood | Jul 9, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Jul 7, 2023 |
| Tropical Storm Henri | Hurricane | Aug 22, 2021 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | Jul 29, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Apr 15, 2019 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2017 |
| Tropical Storm Irene | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Jul 21, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 29, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flood — Dec 18, 2023
An area of low pressure tracked up the East Coast and intensified in the process as it brought widespread moderate to heavy rainfall across southern Vermont on December 18, 2023. The rain fell light to moderate in intensity during the early morning hours, then became heavier during the later morning and early afternoon hours before tapering off. Rainfall totals were between 2 and 4 inches. This...
Flood — Jul 10, 2023
A strong upper-level system brought widespread rounds of showers and embedded thunderstorms to southern Vermont on July 9-11, 2023. The steadiest and heaviest rainfall occurred from the afternoon hours on July 9 through the morning hours on July 10. Rainfall totals generally ranged between 2.50 and 5.00 inches with some localized amounts of around 6 inches across the southern Green Mountains.||...
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2023
A strong upper-level system brought widespread rounds of showers and embedded thunderstorms to southern Vermont on July 9-11, 2023. The steadiest and heaviest rainfall occurred from the afternoon hours on July 9 through the morning hours on July 10. Rainfall totals generally ranged between 2.50 and 5.00 inches with some localized amounts of around 6 inches across the southern Green Mountains.||...
Flood — Jul 21, 2022
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of an eastward progressing cold front on July 21, 2022. A few became severe producing damaging wind gusts and hail. Heavy rain led to some street flooding in downtown Bennington.
Flood — Jul 29, 2021
Bands of moderate to heavy rainfall set up across areas southern Vermont during the afternoon and evening hours on Thursday, July 29, 2021 north of a warm front and area of low pressure. Between 2 and 5 inches of rain fell across most areas which resulted in several reports of flash flooding. This rainfall ended a very wet month of July in which most areas picked up between 12 and 18 inches of ...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Bennington County, Vermont:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Bennington County, Vermont that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.