Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Gloucester than in 70% of U.S. towns, led by coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gloucester gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #168 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (45%), then river and rain flooding (35%). Flood insurance has paid 322 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 Gloucester’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Gloucester 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
Earthquakes
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 Gloucester’s grade
Coastal flooding is 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gloucester, and Gloucester’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 35% (lower than 94% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #168 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gloucester’s residents live in 9 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Gloucester has more expected damage per building than 59% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.0M a year in losses across Gloucester: $6.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gloucester flood? Yes: 322 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gloucester, from FEMA’s records: 21.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm66 claims · $2.9M
- The December Storm - nor’easter16 claims · $361K
Gloucester 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gloucester
Disasters that paid out in Gloucester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Gloucester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$254K to the City of Gloucester for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$983K to the City of Gloucester for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$357K to the City of Gloucester for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$1.2M to the City of Gloucester for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$15K to the City of Gloucester for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$148K to the City of Gloucester for repairs
Show all 14
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding50 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$15K to the City of Gloucester for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$82K to the City of Gloucester for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding238 households applied for aid$340K aid approved$297K to the City of Gloucester for repairs19 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$206K to the City of Gloucester for repairs
- 2004Flooding15 households applied for aid$14K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$145K to the City of Gloucester for repairs
- 2003Snow$91K to the City of Gloucester for repairs
- 2001Snow$109K to the City of Gloucester for repairs4 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 Gloucester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gloucester archive →Gloucester and its neighbors
Gloucester is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Rockport | B+less damage than 74% | coastal flooding | 250 |
| 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 Gloucester 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Gloucester
Is Gloucester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gloucester has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #168 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (45%) and river and rain flooding (35%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gloucester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 322 claims in Gloucester since 1978, $8.9M in all, or 21.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 40 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (66).
Is Gloucester 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 Gloucester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gloucester’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 Gloucester?
By FEMA money that reached Gloucester, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2013): $1.2M to the City of Gloucester for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 66 paid, $2.9M.
Is Gloucester at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Gloucester’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gloucester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gloucester’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.