Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Hanson’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hanson gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #78 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 4 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 Hanson 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 Hanson’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hanson, and Hanson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
A #78 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hanson’s residents live in 2 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, Hanson has less expected damage per building than 73% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Hanson: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hanson flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hanson, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hanson isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Plymouth County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hanson
Disasters that paid out in Hanson itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hanson), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Hurricane Lee$3K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$94K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$12K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$123K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$59K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$11K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$34K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding152 households applied for aid$228K aid approved$15K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$50K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
- 2003Snow$42K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
- 2003Snow$30K to the Town of Hanson for repairs
Plymouth County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Hanson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hanson archive →Hanson and its neighbors
Hanson is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Hanover | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Hanson | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Whitman | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Halifax | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| East Bridgewater | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
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 Hanson 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 Hanson
Is Hanson at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hanson has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #78 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hanson flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Hanson since 1978, $13K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hanson 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 Plymouth County, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hanson?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hanson’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 Hanson?
By FEMA money that reached Hanson, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 152 households applied for aid, $228K approved, and $15K to the Town of Hanson for repairs.
Is Hanson at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Hanson’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hanson.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hanson’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.