Photo: Fletcher6 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Amesbury as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Amesbury gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #250 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 43 claims here since 1978.
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 Amesbury 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
Earthquakes
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 Amesbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Amesbury, and Amesbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #250 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Amesbury’s residents live in 4 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, Amesbury has more expected damage per building than 88% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.7M a year in losses across Amesbury: $4.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Amesbury flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Amesbury, from FEMA’s records: 5.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter4 claims · $162K
- The March 2010 nor’easter3 claims · $16K
Amesbury isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Amesbury
Disasters that paid out in Amesbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Amesbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$78K to the City of Amesbury for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$59K to the City of Amesbury for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$5K to the City of Amesbury for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$47K to the City of Amesbury for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding55 households applied for aid$47K aid approved$148K to the City of Amesbury for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$164K to the City of Amesbury for repairs
Show all 13
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$8K to the City of Amesbury for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding88 households applied for aid$94K aid approved$463K to the City of Amesbury for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$44K to the City of Amesbury for repairs
- 2004Flooding15 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2003Snow$32K to the City of Amesbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$21K to the City of Amesbury for repairs
- 2001Snow$16K to the City of Amesbury for repairs
Essex County has had 32 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 Amesbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Amesbury archive →Amesbury and its neighbors
Amesbury is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimac | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Newburyport | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 226 |
| West Newbury | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Amesbury | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Salisbury | Dmore damage than 94% | coastal flooding | 323 |
| South Hampton | — | 984 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Amesbury 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Amesbury
Is Amesbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Amesbury has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #250 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Amesbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in Amesbury since 1978, $1.2M in all, or 5.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (4).
Is Amesbury 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 Essex County, 58% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Amesbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Amesbury’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 Amesbury?
By FEMA money that reached Amesbury, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 88 households applied for aid, $94K approved, and $463K to the City of Amesbury for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 4 paid, $162K.
Is Amesbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Amesbury’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Amesbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Amesbury’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.