Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Edgartown than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edgartown gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #158 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then hurricanes (33%). Flood insurance has paid 38 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 Edgartown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Edgartown 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 Edgartown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Edgartown, and Edgartown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #158 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Edgartown’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Edgartown has more expected damage per building than 56% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Edgartown: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Edgartown flood? Sometimes: 38 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Edgartown, from FEMA’s records: 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm14 claims · $317K
- Hurricane Bob7 claims · $167K
- The December Storm - nor’easter4 claims · $106K
Edgartown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dukes County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Edgartown
Disasters that paid out in Edgartown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Edgartown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$33K to the Town of Edgartown for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$8K to the Town of Edgartown for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $23K
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$11K to the Town of Edgartown for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$9K to the Town of Edgartown for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$25K to the Town of Edgartown for repairs
- 2003Snow$14K to the Town of Edgartown for repairs
Dukes County has had 16 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 Edgartown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Edgartown archive →Edgartown and its neighbors
Edgartown is 2nd of the 3 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 Tisbury | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Edgartown | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Oak Bluffs | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
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 Edgartown 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 Edgartown
Is Edgartown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edgartown has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #158 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and hurricanes (33%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Edgartown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 38 claims in Edgartown since 1978, $698K in all, or 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (14).
Is Edgartown 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 Dukes County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Edgartown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Edgartown’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 Edgartown?
By FEMA money that reached Edgartown, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2015): $33K to the Town of Edgartown for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 14 paid, $317K.
Is Edgartown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Edgartown’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Edgartown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Edgartown’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.