Barre, Vermont Flood Zones
Barre faces flooding from the Stevens Branch and other tributaries of the Winooski River. The city's location in a narrow valley concentrates floodwaters during heavy rainfall events.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Washington County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $17.6M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $601K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Washington County
Washington County has been included in 16 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 8 earlier declarations since 1973.
These declarations affected communities across Washington County, including Barre.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Washington County
Properties in Washington County have filed 1,234 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $49.8M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $40K.
Highest-Claim Years
2011
453 claims - $18.8M
2023
340 claims - $23.4M
2024
113 claims - $4.6M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone AE
677
Zone A
391
Zone X
128
Zone D
3
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Barre
Properties in Barre, VT are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Barre
Barre faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Barre are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $17.6M.
Riverine flood risk in Barre is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Barre address.
Check Your Barre Address
Enter any Barre, VT address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupBarre, VT Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Barre, VT?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Barre are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Barre?
If your Barre property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Barre?
Enter your Barre address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
What type of flooding affects Barre?
Barre is primarily affected by river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Barre address.
Has Barre experienced major flooding events?
Washington County, where Barre is located, has been part of 16 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in 2023. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Barre?
Washington County has recorded 1,234 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $49.8M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2011, with 453 claims and $18.8M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Barre.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026