Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Braintree Town than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Braintree Town gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #264 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 136 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 Braintree Town’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Braintree Town 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 Braintree Town’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Braintree Town, and Braintree Town’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C #264 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Braintree Town’s residents live in 9 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, Braintree Town has more expected damage per building than 93% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.7M a year in losses across Braintree Town: $13.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Braintree Town flood? Yes: 136 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Braintree Town, from FEMA’s records: 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter45 claims · $1.2M
- The December Storm - nor’easter3 claims · $16K
Braintree Town isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Norfolk County.The storms Braintree Town remembers
None of the 29 disasters declared for Norfolk County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Braintree Town itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201046 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Earl, declared for Norfolk County
- 200512 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Norfolk County
- 197810 flood claims paidThe year of Coastal Storms, Flood, Ice and Snow, declared for Norfolk County
Norfolk County has had 29 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 Braintree Town after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Braintree Town archive →Braintree Town and its neighbors
Braintree Town is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weymouth Town | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 214 |
| Holbrook | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Randolph Town | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Quincy | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1,430 |
| Braintree Town | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
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 Braintree Town 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 Braintree Town
Is Braintree Town at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Braintree Town has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #264 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Braintree Town flood?
Flood insurance has paid 136 claims in Braintree Town since 1978, $2.1M in all, or 9.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (45).
Is Braintree Town 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 Norfolk County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Braintree Town?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Braintree Town’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 Braintree Town?
By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 45 paid, $1.2M.
Is Braintree Town at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Braintree Town’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Braintree Town.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Braintree Town’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.