Photo: Ian Howard · CC BY 2.5FEMA puts Boston’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boston gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #37 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 209 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 Boston’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Boston 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 Boston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Boston, and Boston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A #37 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Boston’s residents live in 202 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, Boston has less expected damage per building than 87% of Massachusetts towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Boston has lower expected damage per building than 96% (#16 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $95.3M, is the 123th largest of those 400.
Does Boston flood? Yes: 209 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Boston, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter12 claims · $116K
- The “Halloween” storm5 claims · $33K
Boston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Suffolk County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Boston
Disasters that paid out in Boston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Boston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$4.7M to the City of Boston for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$3.6M to the City of Boston for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$4.2M to the City of Boston for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$2.8M to the City of Boston for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$1.9M to the City of Boston for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$235K to the City of Boston for repairs
Show all 13
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$2.2M to the City of Boston for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding189 households applied for aid$217K aid approved$789K to the City of Boston for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding26 households applied for aid$65K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$3.3M to the City of Boston for repairs
- 2004Flooding13 households applied for aid$20K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$1.7M to the City of Boston for repairs
- 2003Snow$1.8M to the City of Boston for repairs
Suffolk County has had 30 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 Boston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Boston archive →Boston and its neighbors
Boston is 2nd of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookline | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Boston | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 209 |
| Dedham | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Milton | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 54 |
| Cambridge | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Newton | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 302 |
| Winthrop Town | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1,045 |
| Watertown | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Chelsea | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Revere | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 2,147 |
| Quincy | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1,430 |
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 Boston 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 Boston
Is Boston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boston has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #37 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Boston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 209 claims in Boston since 1978, $4.1M in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 26 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (12).
Is Boston 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 Suffolk County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Boston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Boston’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 Boston?
By FEMA money that reached Boston, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2022): $4.7M to the City of Boston for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 12 paid, $116K.
Is Boston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Boston’s rate for it is lower than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Boston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Boston’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.