Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0FEMA puts Lunenburg’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lunenburg gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #81 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%), then hurricanes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2008.
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 Lunenburg 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 Lunenburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 61% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lunenburg, and Lunenburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
A #81 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lunenburg’s residents live in 2 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, Lunenburg has less expected damage per building than 72% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Lunenburg: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lunenburg flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lunenburg, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lunenburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Worcester County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lunenburg
Disasters that paid out in Lunenburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lunenburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$45K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$48K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$490K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$7K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding29 households applied for aid$32K aid approved$48K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
Show all 13
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$823K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$54K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2004Flooding3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2003Snow$29K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2003Snow$24K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2001Snow$27K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
Worcester County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Lunenburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lunenburg archive →Lunenburg and its neighbors
Lunenburg is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashby | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Shirley | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Lunenburg | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Leominster | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Townsend | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Fitchburg | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
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 Lunenburg 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 Lunenburg
Is Lunenburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lunenburg has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #81 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (61%) and hurricanes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lunenburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Lunenburg since 2008, $3K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lunenburg 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 Worcester County, 65% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lunenburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lunenburg’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 Lunenburg?
By FEMA money that reached Lunenburg, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (2008): $823K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs.
Is Lunenburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (61%), and Lunenburg’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lunenburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lunenburg’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.