Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Malden as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Malden gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #256 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 57 claims here since 1979.
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 Malden 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 Malden’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Malden, and Malden’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #256 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Malden’s residents live in 13 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, Malden has more expected damage per building than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.1M a year in losses across Malden: $10.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Malden flood? Sometimes: 57 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Malden, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter7 claims · $38K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $24K
Malden 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Malden
Disasters that paid out in Malden itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Malden), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$176K to the City of Malden for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$191K to the City of Malden for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$202K to the City of Malden for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$34K to the City of Malden for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$160K to the City of Malden for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding161 households applied for aid$175K aid approved$51K to the City of Malden for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding117 households applied for aid$295K aid approved$13K to the City of Malden for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$115K to the City of Malden for repairs
- 2004Flooding27 households applied for aid$47K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$103K to the City of Malden for repairs
- 2003Snow$88K to the City of Malden for repairs
- 2001Snow$117K to the City of Malden for repairs5 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 Malden after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Malden archive →Malden and its neighbors
Malden is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everett | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Revere | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 2,147 |
| Malden | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Medford | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Melrose | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
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 Malden 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 Malden
Is Malden at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Malden has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #256 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Malden flood?
Flood insurance has paid 57 claims in Malden since 1979, $372K in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (7).
Is Malden 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 Malden?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Malden’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 Malden?
By FEMA money that reached Malden, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 117 households applied for aid, $295K approved, and $13K to the City of Malden for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 7 paid, $38K.
Is Malden at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Malden’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Malden.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Malden’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.