Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Haverhill faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haverhill gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #255 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 79 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 Haverhill’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Haverhill 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
Earthquakes
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 Haverhill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Haverhill, and Haverhill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #255 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Haverhill’s residents live in 14 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, Haverhill has more expected damage per building than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.8M a year in losses across Haverhill: $14.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Haverhill flood? Sometimes: 79 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Haverhill, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter12 claims · $308K
- The March 2010 nor’easter3 claims · $27K
Haverhill is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Essex County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Haverhill
Disasters that paid out in Haverhill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Haverhill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$215K to the City of Haverhill for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$302K to the City of Haverhill for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$340K to the City of Haverhill for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$26K to the City of Haverhill for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$233K to the City of Haverhill for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding174 households applied for aid$224K aid approved$169K to the City of Haverhill for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 14
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$206K to the City of Haverhill for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$22K to the City of Haverhill for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding299 households applied for aid$417K aid approved$1.0M to the City of Haverhill for repairs34 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$162K to the City of Haverhill for repairs
- 2004Flooding53 households applied for aid$79K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$163K to the City of Haverhill for repairs
- 2003Snow$143K to the City of Haverhill for repairs
- 2001Snow$212K to the City of Haverhill 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 Haverhill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Haverhill archive →Haverhill and its neighbors
Haverhill is 9th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxford | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Atkinson | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Merrimac | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Plaistow | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Groveland | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| North Andover | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| Methuen | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| West Newbury | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Haverhill | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 79 |
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 Haverhill 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- Haverhill residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Haverhill
Is Haverhill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haverhill has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #255 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Haverhill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 79 claims in Haverhill since 1978, $2.2M in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (12).
Is Haverhill 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 Haverhill?
Haverhill is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Haverhill?
By FEMA money that reached Haverhill, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 299 households applied for aid, $417K approved, and $1.0M to the City of Haverhill for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 12 paid, $308K.
Is Haverhill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Haverhill’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Haverhill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Haverhill’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.