Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Lowell 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, Lowell gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #254 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 195 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 Lowell’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lowell 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 Lowell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lowell, and Lowell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #254 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lowell’s residents live in 26 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, Lowell has more expected damage per building than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Lowell has lower expected damage per building than 52% (#192 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $22.1M, is the 381th largest of those 400.
Does Lowell flood? Yes: 195 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lowell, from FEMA’s records: 4.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter15 claims · $264K
- The April 2007 nor’easter15 claims · $364K
Lowell isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lowell
Disasters that paid out in Lowell itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lowell), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$455K to the City of Lowell for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$503K to the City of Lowell for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$453K to the City of Lowell for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$88K to the City of Lowell for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$10K to the City of Lowell for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $15K
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$324K to the City of Lowell for repairs
Show all 14
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding136 households applied for aid$237K aid approved$62K to the City of Lowell for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$314K to the City of Lowell for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding433 households applied for aid$989K aid approved$509K to the City of Lowell for repairs105 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$297K to the City of Lowell for repairs
- 2004Flooding7 households applied for aid$13K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$212K to the City of Lowell for repairs
- 2003Snow$173K to the City of Lowell for repairs
- 2001Snow$253K to the City of Lowell for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Middlesex County has had 27 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 Lowell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lowell archive →Lowell and its neighbors
Lowell is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tewksbury | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Chelmsford | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Tyngsborough | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Dracut | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Lowell | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 195 |
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 Lowell 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 Lowell
Is Lowell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lowell has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #254 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lowell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 195 claims in Lowell since 1978, $4.9M in all, or 4.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 26 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (15).
Is Lowell 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lowell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lowell’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 Lowell?
By FEMA money that reached Lowell, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 433 households applied for aid, $989K approved, and $509K to the City of Lowell for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 15 paid, $264K.
Is Lowell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Lowell’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lowell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lowell’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.