Roxbury Center · Photo: Pedro Xing · CC0FEMA puts Roxbury’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Roxbury gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1980.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Roxbury faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Roxbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Roxbury, and Roxbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts).
C higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Roxbury’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Roxbury: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Roxbury flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Roxbury, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $10K
Roxbury isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: the county.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Roxbury
Disasters that paid out in Roxbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Roxbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$175K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$4K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$63K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$43K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$103K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
Show all 13
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$22K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $10K
- 2011Snowstorm$19K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$12K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd$6K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs
Old photos of Roxbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Roxbury archive →Roxbury and its neighbors
Roxbury is 3rd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Southbury | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 103 |
| Roxbury | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Washington | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Woodbury | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Roxbury faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Roxbury
Is Roxbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Roxbury has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (13%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Roxbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Roxbury since 1980, $13K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Roxbury in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In the county, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Roxbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Roxbury’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Roxbury?
By FEMA money that reached Roxbury, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): $175K to the Town of Roxbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $10K.
Is Roxbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Roxbury’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Roxbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Roxbury’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.