Photo: Botteville · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Danvers than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Danvers gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #62 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1979.
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 Danvers’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Danvers 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
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 Danvers’ grade
River and rain flooding is 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Danvers, and Danvers’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 8%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
A #62 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Danvers’ 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, Danvers has less expected damage per building than 78% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Danvers: $5.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Danvers flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Danvers, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter6 claims · $58K
- The “Halloween” storm1 claim · $2K
Danvers isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Danvers
Disasters that paid out in Danvers itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Danvers), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$215K to the Town of Danvers for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$54K to the Town of Danvers for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$299K to the Town of Danvers for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$197K to the Town of Danvers for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$24K to the Town of Danvers for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$187K to the Town of Danvers for repairs
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding198 households applied for aid$244K aid approved$13K to the Town of Danvers for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding235 households applied for aid$386K aid approved$656K to the Town of Danvers for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$203K to the Town of Danvers for repairs
- 2004Flooding77 households applied for aid$73K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$206K to the Town of Danvers for repairs
- 2003Snow$109K to the Town of Danvers for repairs
- 2001Snow$150K to the Town of Danvers for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Essex County has had 32 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Danvers after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Danvers archive →Danvers and its neighbors
Danvers is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wenham | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Beverly | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 112 |
| Danvers | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Topsfield | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Salem | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 147 |
| Peabody | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 306 |
| Middleton | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
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 Danvers 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.
- 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 Danvers
Is Danvers at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Danvers has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #62 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (62%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Danvers flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Danvers since 1979, $669K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (6).
Is Danvers 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 Essex County, 58% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Danvers?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Danvers’ 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 Danvers?
By FEMA money that reached Danvers, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 235 households applied for aid, $386K approved, and $656K to the Town of Danvers for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 6 paid, $58K.
Is Danvers at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Danvers’ rate for it is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Danvers.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Danvers’ 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.