Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Amherst Town faces less hazard damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Amherst Town gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #122 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1991.
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 Amherst 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 Amherst Town’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Amherst Town, and Amherst Town’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 15% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #122 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Amherst Town’s residents live in 7 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, Amherst Town has less expected damage per building than 57% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Amherst Town: $5.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Amherst Town flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1991
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Amherst Town, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm1 claim · $24K
Amherst 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: Hampshire County.The storms Amherst Town remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Hampshire County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Amherst Town itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19911 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Hampshire County has had 17 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 Amherst Town after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Amherst Town archive →Amherst Town and its neighbors
Amherst Town has the lowest expected damage per building of the 8 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Granby | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Belchertown | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| South Hadley | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Pelham | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Leverett | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Shutesbury | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Hadley | Bless damage than 62% | 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 Amherst 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 Amherst Town
Is Amherst Town at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Amherst Town has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #122 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Amherst Town flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Amherst Town since 1991, $24K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (1).
Is Amherst 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 Hampshire County, 0.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Amherst Town?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Amherst 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 Amherst Town?
By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 1 paid, $24K.
Is Amherst Town at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Amherst Town’s rate for it is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Amherst Town.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Amherst 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.