Photo: Emily Cotter · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Harvard than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harvard gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #50 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%), then hurricanes (34%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Harvard 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
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 Harvard’s grade
River and rain flooding is 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harvard, and Harvard’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
A #50 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Harvard’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, Harvard has less expected damage per building than 83% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Harvard: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Harvard flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Harvard. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Harvard isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Worcester County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Harvard
Disasters that paid out in Harvard itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Harvard), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$39K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$81K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$22K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$90K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$3K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$30K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$598K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$18K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
- 2004Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Snow$19K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
- 2003Snow$13K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
- 2001Snow$14K to the Town of Harvard for repairs
Worcester County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Harvard after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Harvard archive →Harvard and its neighbors
Harvard is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayer | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Boxborough | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Littleton | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Harvard | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Shirley | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Lancaster | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Bolton | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Devens | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Harvard 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.
- 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 Harvard
Is Harvard at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harvard has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #50 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%) and hurricanes (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Harvard 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 Worcester County, 65% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Harvard?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Harvard’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 Harvard?
By FEMA money that reached Harvard, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (2008): $598K to the Town of Harvard for repairs.
Is Harvard at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Harvard’s rate for it is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harvard.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Harvard’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.