Photo: T.S. Custadio aka ToddC4176 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Bourne than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bourne gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #177 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then hurricanes (26%). Flood insurance has paid 396 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 Bourne’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bourne 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
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 Bourne’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bourne, and Bourne’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 10%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #177 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bourne’s residents live in 5 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, Bourne has more expected damage per building than 62% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across Bourne: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bourne flood? Yes: 396 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bourne, from FEMA’s records: 33.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Bob295 claims · $4.9M
- The March 2010 nor’easter6 claims · $29K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $14K
Bourne isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Barnstable County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bourne
Disasters that paid out in Bourne itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bourne), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$131K to the Town of Bourne for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$284K to the Town of Bourne for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$51K to the Town of Bourne for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$109K to the Town of Bourne for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $10K
- 2010Hurricane Earl$6K to the Town of Bourne for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina Evacuation$21K to the Town of Bourne for repairs
Show all 9
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$147K to the Town of Bourne for repairs
- 2003Snow$57K to the Town of Bourne for repairs
- 2003Snow$66K to the Town of Bourne for repairs
Barnstable County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bourne after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bourne archive →Bourne and its neighbors
Bourne is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 334 |
| Marion | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Bourne | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 396 |
| Wareham | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 750 |
| Sandwich | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 169 |
| Falmouth | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 510 |
| Buzzards Bay | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Sagamore | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| North Falmouth | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Pocasset | — | 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 Bourne 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.
- 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 Bourne
Is Bourne at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bourne has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #177 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and hurricanes (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bourne flood?
Flood insurance has paid 396 claims in Bourne since 1978, $5.6M in all, or 33.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Bob (295).
Is Bourne 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 Barnstable County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bourne?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bourne’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 Bourne?
By FEMA money that reached Bourne, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2013): $284K to the Town of Bourne for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Bob: 295 paid, $4.9M.
Is Bourne at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Bourne’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bourne.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bourne’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.