Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Essex than in 67% of U.S. towns, led by coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Essex gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #265 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (48%), then river and rain flooding (38%). Flood insurance has paid 85 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 Essex’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Essex faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Coastal flooding
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 Essex’s grade
Coastal flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Essex, and Essex’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 38% (lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
C #265 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Essex’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, Essex has more expected damage per building than 94% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Essex: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Essex flood? Sometimes: 85 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Essex, from FEMA’s records: 54.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm6 claims · $210K
- The April 2007 nor’easter6 claims · $186K
Essex 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 Essex
Disasters that paid out in Essex itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Essex), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Essex for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$28K to the Town of Essex for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$27K to the Town of Essex for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$4K to the Town of Essex for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Town of Essex for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$9K to the Town of Essex for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$19K to the Town of Essex for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding28 households applied for aid$38K aid approved$24K to the Town of Essex for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$20K to the Town of Essex for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Flooding3 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2003Snow$18K to the Town of Essex for repairs
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Essex for repairs
- 2001Snow$13K to the Town of Essex for repairs3 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 Essex after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Essex archive →Essex and its neighbors
Essex 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Gloucester | B+less damage than 70% | coastal flooding | 322 |
| Ipswich | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Essex | Cmore damage than 67% | coastal flooding | 85 |
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 Essex faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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 Essex
Is Essex at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Essex has higher expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #265 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (48%) and river and rain flooding (38%). 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 Essex flood?
Flood insurance has paid 85 claims in Essex since 1978, $1.9M in all, or 54.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (6).
Is Essex 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 Essex?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Essex’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 Essex?
By FEMA money that reached Essex, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 28 households applied for aid, $38K approved, and $24K to the Town of Essex for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 6 paid, $210K.
Is Essex at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Essex’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Essex.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Essex’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.