Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Hingham than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hingham gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #101 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 100 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 Hingham’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hingham 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
Coastal flooding
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 Hingham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hingham, and Hingham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 10%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #101 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hingham’s residents live in 5 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, Hingham has less expected damage per building than 65% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.8M a year in losses across Hingham: $5.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hingham flood? Yes: 100 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hingham, from FEMA’s records: 9.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm13 claims · $111K
- The March 2010 nor’easter6 claims · $46K
Hingham 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 Hingham
Disasters that paid out in Hingham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hingham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$255K to the Town of Hingham for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$333K to the Town of Hingham for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$527K to the Town of Hingham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$152K to the Town of Hingham for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$63K to the Town of Hingham for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$127K to the Town of Hingham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding138 households applied for aid$228K aid approved$25K to the Town of Hingham for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$34K to the Town of Hingham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$152K to the Town of Hingham for repairs
- 2003Snow$97K to the Town of Hingham for repairs
- 2003Snow$99K to the Town of Hingham 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 Hingham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hingham archive →Hingham and its neighbors
Hingham is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwell | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Hingham | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 100 |
| Weymouth Town | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 214 |
| Cohasset | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 107 |
| Scituate | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3,519 |
| Hull | Dmore damage than 92% | coastal flooding | 1,980 |
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 Hingham 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.
- 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.
- 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 Hingham
Is Hingham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hingham has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #101 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hingham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 100 claims in Hingham since 1978, $1.2M in all, or 9.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (13).
Is Hingham 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 Hingham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hingham’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 Hingham?
By FEMA money that reached Hingham, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2015): $527K to the Town of Hingham for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 13 paid, $111K.
Is Hingham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Hingham’s rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hingham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hingham’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.