Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Foxborough

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Foxborough Pumping StationFoxborough Pumping Station · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
A+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Foxborough · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Foxborough than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Foxborough gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #6 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 72%Hurricanes 16%Earthquakes 8%

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 96%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#6 of 283 in Massachusetts
Hazard risk
A+#6 of 283
in Massachusetts · lower than 96% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
72% of expected building damage
Flood claims
6
paid since 1978 · $16K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
10
of 29 declared for Norfolk County
By hazard

What Foxborough 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

72%of expected building damage
Well below average · lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

16%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Earthquakes

8%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Ice storms Strong wind Lightning Wildfire Winter storms Hail 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 Foxborough’s grade

River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Foxborough, and Foxborough’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 16% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Foxborough sits
Foxborough
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A+ #6 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Foxborough’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding72%Hurricanes16%Earthquakes8%Everything else4%

The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Foxborough has less expected damage per building than 98% of Massachusetts towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Foxborough: $3.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Foxborough covers 3 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 Foxborough flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Foxborough, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 2 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 1 claim1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 1 claim2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197819791992
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $441
6
paid claims since 1978
$16K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$3K
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

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

Insurance rates: Norfolk County.
Disasters

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Foxborough

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

  1. 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$164K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
  2. 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$113K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
  3. 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$137K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
  4. 2011Tropical Storm Irene$144K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
  5. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$107K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
  6. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$29K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
Show all 10
  1. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$98K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
  2. 2003Snow$89K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
  3. 2003Snow$47K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
  4. 2001Snow$57K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in FoxboroughNorfolk County only

Norfolk County has had 29 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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Foxborough archive →
Next door

Foxborough and its neighbors

Foxborough has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Sharon: hazard risk A+Walpole: hazard risk AWrentham: hazard risk ASharonWalpoleWrenthamFoxborough
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
FoxboroughA+less damage than 96%river and rain flooding6
SharonA+less damage than 96%river and rain flooding26
WrenthamAless damage than 92%river and rain flooding1
WalpoleAless damage than 91%river and rain flooding9

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 Foxborough 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 ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
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 Foxborough

Is Foxborough at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Foxborough has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #6 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Foxborough flood?

Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Foxborough since 1978, $16K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (1).

Is Foxborough 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 Norfolk County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Foxborough?

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

By FEMA money that reached Foxborough, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2022): $164K to the Town of Foxborough for repairs. By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 1 paid, $441.

Is Foxborough at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Foxborough’s rate for it is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Foxborough.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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