Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Medway’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Medway gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #167 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 2005.
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 Medway 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 Medway’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Medway, and Medway’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #167 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Medway’s residents live in 3 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, Medway has more expected damage per building than 59% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Medway: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Medway flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Medway, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $52K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $52K
Medway isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Norfolk County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Medway
Disasters that paid out in Medway itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Medway), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$169K to the Town of Medway for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$102K to the Town of Medway for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$115K to the Town of Medway for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$124K to the Town of Medway for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$109K to the Town of Medway for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$70K to the Town of Medway for repairs
Show all 14
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$72K to the Town of Medway for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding103 households applied for aid$116K aid approved$11K to the Town of Medway for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$85K to the Town of Medway for repairs
- 2004Flooding1 households applied for aid$507 aid approved
- 2003Snow$86K to the Town of Medway for repairs
- 2003Snow$55K to the Town of Medway for repairs
- 2001Snow$56K to the Town of Medway for repairs
Norfolk County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Medway after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Medway archive →Medway and its neighbors
Medway is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Town | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Norfolk | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Bellingham | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Holliston | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Millis | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Milford | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Medway | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Medway 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 Medway
Is Medway at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Medway has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #167 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Medway flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Medway since 2005, $165K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (1).
Is Medway 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 Norfolk County, 43% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Medway?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Medway’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 Medway?
By FEMA money that reached Medway, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2022): $169K to the Town of Medway for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $52K.
Is Medway at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Medway’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Medway.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Medway’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.