Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Bridgewater Town than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgewater Town gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #147 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 20 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 Bridgewater Town’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bridgewater 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
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 Bridgewater Town’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bridgewater Town, and Bridgewater Town’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 11% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #147 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bridgewater Town’s residents live in 6 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, Bridgewater Town has more expected damage per building than 52% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.0M a year in losses across Bridgewater Town: $5.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bridgewater Town flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bridgewater Town, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter9 claims · $32K
Bridgewater 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: Plymouth County.The storms Bridgewater Town remembers
None of the 25 disasters declared for Plymouth County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Bridgewater Town itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20109 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Earl, declared for Plymouth County
- 20053 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Plymouth County
- 19782 flood claims paidThe year of Coastal Storms, Flood, Ice and Snow, declared for Plymouth County
Plymouth County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bridgewater Town after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bridgewater Town archive →Bridgewater Town and its neighbors
Bridgewater Town is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bridgewater | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Bridgewater Town | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Middleborough | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Halifax | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Raynham | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| East Bridgewater | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Raynham Center | — | 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 Bridgewater 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.
- 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 Bridgewater Town
Is Bridgewater Town at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgewater Town has lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #147 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bridgewater Town flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Bridgewater Town since 1978, $94K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (9).
Is Bridgewater 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 Plymouth County, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bridgewater Town?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bridgewater 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 Bridgewater Town?
By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 9 paid, $32K.
Is Bridgewater Town at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Bridgewater Town’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bridgewater Town.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bridgewater 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.