Storms, floods and disasters in East Harwich
East Harwich isn’t graded for hazard risk: East Harwich is a Census area inside a town, graded with the town. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1991.
What East Harwich 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.
Does East Harwich flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1991
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in East Harwich, from FEMA’s records.
- The December Storm - nor’easter2 claims · $16K
- The “Halloween” storm2 claims · $5K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $170K
East Harwich 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.The storms East Harwich remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Barnstable County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching East Harwich itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19912 flood claims paidThe year of Coastal Storm, declared for Barnstable County
- 19922 flood claims paidThe year of Winter Coastal Storm, declared for Barnstable County
- 20152 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding, declared for Barnstable County
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 East Harwich after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the East Harwich archive →East Harwich and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Brewster | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Chatham | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 132 |
| Harwich | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Harwich Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Northwest Harwich | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Harwich Port | — | 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 East Harwich 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 East Harwich
Does East Harwich flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in East Harwich since 1991, $342K in all. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (2).
Is East Harwich 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 East Harwich?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for East Harwich’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 East Harwich?
By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 2 paid, $16K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in East Harwich.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where East Harwich’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.