Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Agawam Town faces more hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Agawam Town gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #261 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 30 claims here since 1979.
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 Agawam Town 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 Agawam Town’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Agawam Town, and Agawam Town’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #261 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Agawam Town’s residents live in 6 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, Agawam Town has more expected damage per building than 92% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.8M a year in losses across Agawam Town: $6.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Agawam Town flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Agawam Town, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $9K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $5K
Agawam Town isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hampden County.The storms Agawam Town remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Hampden County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Agawam Town itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 198418 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20053 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Hampden County
- 20113 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storm and Snowstorm, declared for Hampden County
Hampden County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Agawam Town after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Agawam Town archive →Agawam Town and its neighbors
Agawam Town is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Springfield Town | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Springfield | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Longmeadow | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Southwick | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Agawam Town | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Suffield | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Westfield | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
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 Agawam Town 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 Agawam Town
Is Agawam Town at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Agawam Town has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #261 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Agawam Town flood?
Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Agawam Town since 1979, $134K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (2).
Is Agawam Town 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 Hampden County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Agawam Town?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Agawam Town’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 Agawam Town?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 2 paid, $9K.
Is Agawam Town at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Agawam Town’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Agawam Town.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Agawam Town’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.