Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Carver as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carver gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #215 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1991.
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 Carver 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 Carver’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Carver, and Carver’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B #215 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Carver’s residents live in 2 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, Carver has more expected damage per building than 76% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.3M a year in losses across Carver: $3.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Carver flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1991
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Carver, from FEMA’s records: 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $7K
- The “Halloween” storm1 claim · $6K
Carver 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Carver
Disasters that paid out in Carver itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Carver), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$129K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$101K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$180K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$48K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$23K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$61K to the Town of Carver for repairs
Show all 12
- 2010Hurricane Earl$5K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding246 households applied for aid$812K aid approved$46K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$16K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$102K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2003Snow$47K to the Town of Carver for repairs
- 2003Snow$51K to the Town of Carver for repairs
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 Carver after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Carver archive →Carver and its neighbors
Carver 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 334 |
| Plympton | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Middleborough | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Wareham | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 750 |
| Carver | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Carver 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 Carver
Is Carver at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carver has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #215 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Carver flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Carver since 1991, $25K in all, or 1.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (1).
Is Carver 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 Carver?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Carver’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 Carver?
By FEMA money that reached Carver, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 246 households applied for aid, $812K approved, and $46K to the Town of Carver for repairs. By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 1 paid, $7K.
Is Carver at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Carver’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Carver.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Carver’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.