Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Holyoke faces less hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holyoke gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #193 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 10 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 Holyoke 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 Holyoke’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Holyoke, and Holyoke’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B #193 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Holyoke’s residents live in 11 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, Holyoke has more expected damage per building than 68% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.5M a year in losses across Holyoke: $7.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Holyoke flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Holyoke, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $5K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $19K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $6K
Holyoke isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hampden County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Holyoke
Disasters that paid out in Holyoke itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Holyoke), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$93K to the City of Holyoke for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$2.5M to the City of Holyoke for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$21K to the City of Holyoke for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$91K to the City of Holyoke for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$12K to the City of Holyoke for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$76K to the City of Holyoke for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$53K to the City of Holyoke for repairs
- 2003Snow$37K to the City of Holyoke for repairs
Hampden County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Holyoke after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Holyoke archive →Holyoke and its neighbors
Holyoke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicopee | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| South Hadley | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Southampton | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Holyoke | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| West Springfield Town | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Easthampton | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Westfield | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
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 Holyoke 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 Holyoke
Is Holyoke at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Holyoke has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #193 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Holyoke flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Holyoke since 1978, $184K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Holyoke 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 Hampden County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Holyoke?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Holyoke’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 Holyoke?
By FEMA money that reached Holyoke, Severe Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $2.5M to the City of Holyoke for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Holyoke at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Holyoke’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Holyoke.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Holyoke’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.