Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Lee than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lee gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #271 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1983.
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 Lee 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 Lee’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lee, and Lee’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
C #271 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lee’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lee has more expected damage per building than 96% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Lee: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lee flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lee, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm1 claim · $9K
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $1K
Lee isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Berkshire County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lee
Disasters that paid out in Lee itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lee), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$30K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$19K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene12 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$46K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$34K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$19K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$31K to the Town of Lee for repairs
Show all 9
- 2003Snow$13K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2003Snow$13K to the Town of Lee for repairs
- 2001Snow$11K to the Town of Lee for repairs
Berkshire County has had 17 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 Lee after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lee archive →Lee and its neighbors
Lee is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenox | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Becket | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Stockbridge | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Lee | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Lenox Dale | — | 29 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Washington | — | 526 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Tyringham | — | 494 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Lee 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 Lee
Is Lee at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lee has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #271 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (6%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lee flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Lee since 1983, $61K in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (1).
Is Lee 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 Berkshire County, 0.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lee?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lee’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 Lee?
By FEMA money that reached Lee, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): 12 households applied for aid, $21K approved, and $46K to the Town of Lee for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 1 paid, $9K.
Is Lee at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Lee’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lee.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lee’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.