Oliver Wendell Holmes House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Beverly faces less hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beverly gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #15 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 112 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 Beverly’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Beverly 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
Coastal flooding
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 Beverly’s grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Beverly, and Beverly’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 6%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A #15 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Beverly’s residents live in 10 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, Beverly has less expected damage per building than 95% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.9M a year in losses across Beverly: $5.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Beverly flood? Yes: 112 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Beverly, from FEMA’s records: 6.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm12 claims · $198K
- The December Storm - nor’easter7 claims · $20K
Beverly 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Beverly
Disasters that paid out in Beverly itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Beverly), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$234K to the City of Beverly for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$161K to the City of Beverly for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$380K to the City of Beverly for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$412K to the City of Beverly for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$13K to the City of Beverly for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$202K to the City of Beverly for repairs
Show all 14
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding104 households applied for aid$99K aid approved$31K to the City of Beverly for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$22K to the City of Beverly for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding332 households applied for aid$521K aid approved$330K to the City of Beverly for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$249K to the City of Beverly for repairs
- 2004Flooding87 households applied for aid$183K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$146K to the City of Beverly for repairs
- 2003Snow$113K to the City of Beverly for repairs
- 2001Snow$128K to the City of Beverly for repairs6 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 Beverly after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Beverly archive →Beverly and its neighbors
Beverly is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wenham | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Beverly | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 112 |
| Danvers | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Salem | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 147 |
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 Beverly 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Beverly
Is Beverly at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Beverly has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #15 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Beverly flood?
Flood insurance has paid 112 claims in Beverly since 1978, $2.7M in all, or 6.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 20 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (12).
Is Beverly 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 Beverly?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Beverly’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 Beverly?
By FEMA money that reached Beverly, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 332 households applied for aid, $521K approved, and $330K to the City of Beverly for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 12 paid, $198K.
Is Beverly at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Beverly’s rate for it is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Beverly.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Beverly’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.