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Oakes Ames Memorial Hall and Ames Free Library (North Easton, MA)Photo: Daderot · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Easton · FEMA

Less hazard damage per building is expected in Easton than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Easton gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #105 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 80%Hurricanes 12%Earthquakes 5%

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

less than 82%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#105 of 283 in Massachusetts
Hazard risk
A−#105 of 283
in Massachusetts · lower than 82% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
80% of expected building damage
Flood claims
19
paid since 1979 · $128K
Flooded more than once
3
properties
Disasters paid out here
11
of 22 declared for Bristol County
By hazard

What Easton 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

80%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

12%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 5 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Strong wind Ice storms Lightning Hail Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Easton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Easton, and Easton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Easton sits
Easton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #105 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Easton’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding80%Hurricanes12%Earthquakes5%Everything else3%

The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Easton has less expected damage per building than 63% of Massachusetts towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Easton: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Easton covers 5 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Easton flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Easton, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 1 claim1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 2 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 1 claim2000: 0 claims2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 5 claims2006: 1 claim2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 5 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 1 claim2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199220052010
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The March 2010 nor’easter5 claims · $63K
  • The December Storm - nor’easter2 claims · $12K
19
paid claims since 1979
$128K
paid to owners
3
homes flooded more than once
$7K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Easton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Bristol County.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Easton

Disasters that paid out in Easton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Easton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$127K to the Town of Easton for repairs
  2. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$169K to the Town of Easton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$301K to the Town of Easton for repairs
  4. 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$140K to the Town of Easton for repairs
  5. 2012Hurricane Sandy$47K to the Town of Easton for repairs
  6. 2011Tropical Storm Irene$79K to the Town of Easton for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$29K to the Town of Easton for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of Easton for repairs
  3. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$89K to the Town of Easton for repairs
  4. 2003Snow$60K to the Town of Easton for repairs
  5. 2003Snow$52K to the Town of Easton for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in EastonBristol County only

Bristol County has had 22 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Easton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Easton archive →
Next door

Easton and its neighbors

Easton has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Brockton: hazard risk A−Raynham: hazard risk B+BrocktonRaynhamEaston
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
EastonA−less damage than 82%river and rain flooding19
BrocktonA−less damage than 76%river and rain flooding267
RaynhamB+less damage than 68%river and rain flooding1

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Easton faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Easton

Is Easton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Easton has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #105 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Easton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Easton since 1979, $128K in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (5).

Is Easton 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 Bristol County, 56% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Easton?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Easton’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 Easton?

By FEMA money that reached Easton, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2015): $301K to the Town of Easton for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 5 paid, $63K.

Is Easton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Easton’s rate for it is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Easton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Easton’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.