Photo: Fletcher6 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Andover than in 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Andover gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #207 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 147 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 stands out about Andover’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Andover 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
Earthquakes
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 Andover’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Andover, and Andover’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B #207 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Andover’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, Andover has more expected damage per building than 73% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.3M a year in losses across Andover: $12.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Andover flood? Yes: 147 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Andover, from FEMA’s records: 10.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter40 claims · $1.5M
- The April 2007 nor’easter4 claims · $78K
Andover 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Andover
Disasters that paid out in Andover itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Andover), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$467K to the Town of Andover for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$357K to the Town of Andover for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$15K to the Town of Andover for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$262K to the Town of Andover for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding177 households applied for aid$305K aid approved$159K to the Town of Andover for repairs43 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$92K to the Town of Andover for repairs
Show all 12
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding402 households applied for aid$968K aid approved$296K to the Town of Andover for repairs53 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$271K to the Town of Andover for repairs
- 2004Flooding32 households applied for aid$49K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$351K to the Town of Andover for repairs
- 2003Snow$180K to the Town of Andover for repairs
- 2001Snow$384K to the Town of Andover for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
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 Andover after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Andover archive →Andover and its neighbors
Andover is 6th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tewksbury | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Wilmington | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| North Andover | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| North Reading | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 92 |
| Methuen | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| Andover | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 147 |
| Dracut | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Lawrence | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 262 |
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 Andover 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Andover
Is Andover at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Andover has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #207 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Andover flood?
Flood insurance has paid 147 claims in Andover since 1979, $8.1M in all, or 10.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 29 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (40).
Is Andover 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 Andover?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Andover’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 Andover?
By FEMA money that reached Andover, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 402 households applied for aid, $968K approved, and $296K to the Town of Andover for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 40 paid, $1.5M.
Is Andover at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Andover’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Andover.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Andover’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.