Photo: Nwalsh (Uploads) · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Belchertown faces less hazard damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belchertown gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #136 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1984.
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 Belchertown 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 Belchertown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Belchertown, and Belchertown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 18% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #136 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Belchertown’s residents live in 3 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, Belchertown has less expected damage per building than 52% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Belchertown: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Belchertown flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Belchertown, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Belchertown 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Belchertown
Disasters that paid out in Belchertown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Belchertown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$66K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$470K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$16K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$61K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$2K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$16K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
Show all 10
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$49K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
- 2003Snow$33K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
- 2003Snow$43K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
- 2001Snow$29K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs
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 Belchertown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Belchertown archive →Belchertown and its neighbors
Belchertown is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Pelham | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| New Salem | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ware | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Ludlow | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Palmer Town | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Belchertown 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 Belchertown
Is Belchertown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belchertown has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #136 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Belchertown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Belchertown since 1984, $14K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Belchertown 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 Belchertown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Belchertown’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 Belchertown?
By FEMA money that reached Belchertown, Severe Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $470K to the Town of Belchertown for repairs.
Is Belchertown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Belchertown’s rate for it is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Belchertown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Belchertown’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.