Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Acushnet faces less hazard damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Acushnet gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #31 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1997.
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 Acushnet 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 Acushnet’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Acushnet, and Acushnet’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
A #31 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Acushnet’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Acushnet has less expected damage per building than 89% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Acushnet: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Acushnet flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Acushnet, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Acushnet isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bristol County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Acushnet
Disasters that paid out in Acushnet itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Acushnet), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$74K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$64K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$24K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$21K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding42 households applied for aid$70K aid approved$7K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$33K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs
- 2003Snow$15K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs
Bristol County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Acushnet after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Acushnet archive →Acushnet and its neighbors
Acushnet has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acushnet | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| New Bedford | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Fairhaven | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 336 |
| Freetown | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Rochester | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Acushnet Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Acushnet 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 Acushnet
Is Acushnet at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Acushnet has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #31 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Acushnet flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Acushnet since 1997, $15K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Acushnet 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 Bristol County, 56% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Acushnet?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Acushnet’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 Acushnet?
By FEMA money that reached Acushnet, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 42 households applied for aid, $70K approved, and $7K to the Town of Acushnet for repairs.
Is Acushnet at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Acushnet’s rate for it is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Acushnet.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Acushnet’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.