Photo: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lynn as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lynn gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #224 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 251 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 Lynn’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lynn 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 Lynn’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lynn, and Lynn’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #224 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lynn’s residents live in 22 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, Lynn has more expected damage per building than 79% of Massachusetts towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Lynn has lower expected damage per building than 67% (#133 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $15.8M, is the 395th largest of those 400.
Does Lynn flood? Yes: 251 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lynn, from FEMA’s records: 6.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter6 claims · $41K
- The “Halloween” storm6 claims · $96K
Lynn isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lynn
Disasters that paid out in Lynn itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lynn), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$559K to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$7K to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$894K to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$3.3M to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$19K to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$305K to the City of Lynn for repairs
Show all 15
- 2010Hurricane Earl$3K to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding280 households applied for aid$242K aid approved$40K to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$11K to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding616 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$105K to the City of Lynn for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$436K to the City of Lynn for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Flooding105 households applied for aid$147K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$142K to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2003Snow$219K to the City of Lynn for repairs
- 2001Snow$268K to the City of Lynn for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Essex County has had 32 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Lynn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lynn archive →Lynn and its neighbors
Lynn is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swampscott | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 319 |
| Lynnfield | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Nahant | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 341 |
| Peabody | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 306 |
| Revere | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 2,147 |
| Lynn | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 251 |
| Saugus | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 281 |
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 Lynn 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 Lynn
Is Lynn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lynn has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #224 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lynn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 251 claims in Lynn since 1978, $4.0M in all, or 6.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 44 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (6).
Is Lynn 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 Essex County, 58% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lynn?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lynn’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 Lynn?
By FEMA money that reached Lynn, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2013): $3.3M to the City of Lynn for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 6 paid, $41K.
Is Lynn at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Lynn’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lynn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lynn’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.