Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Bedford faces less hazard damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bedford gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #54 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 96 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 stands out about Bedford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bedford 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 Bedford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bedford, and Bedford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A #54 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bedford’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, Bedford has less expected damage per building than 81% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Bedford: $3.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bedford flood? Sometimes: 96 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bedford, from FEMA’s records: 16.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter18 claims · $483K
- Hurricane Bob2 claims · $3K
Bedford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bedford
Disasters that paid out in Bedford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bedford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$177K to the Town of Bedford for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$130K to the Town of Bedford for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$136K to the Town of Bedford for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$30K to the Town of Bedford for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$38K to the Town of Bedford for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$71K to the Town of Bedford for repairs
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding228 households applied for aid$439K aid approved$101K to the Town of Bedford for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$8K to the Town of Bedford for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$106K to the Town of Bedford for repairs
- 2004Flooding5 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2003Snow$94K to the Town of Bedford for repairs
- 2003Snow$57K to the Town of Bedford for repairs
- 2001Snow$58K to the Town of Bedford for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Middlesex County has had 27 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 Bedford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bedford archive →Bedford and its neighbors
Bedford is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Carlisle | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Burlington | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Bedford | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| Lexington | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Concord | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Billerica | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 279 |
| Pinehurst | — | 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 Bedford 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 Bedford
Is Bedford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bedford has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #54 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bedford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 96 claims in Bedford since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 16.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (18).
Is Bedford 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bedford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bedford’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 Bedford?
By FEMA money that reached Bedford, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 228 households applied for aid, $439K approved, and $101K to the Town of Bedford for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 18 paid, $483K.
Is Bedford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Bedford’s rate for it is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bedford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bedford’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.