Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Montague 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, Montague gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #228 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1996.
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 Montague 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 Montague’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Montague, and Montague’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #228 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Montague’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, Montague has more expected damage per building than 80% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Montague: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Montague flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Montague, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Montague isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Montague
Disasters that paid out in Montague itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Montague), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$19K to the Town of Montague for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Town of Montague for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$7K to the Town of Montague for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$14K to the Town of Montague for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$23K to the Town of Montague for repairs
- 2003Snow$20K to the Town of Montague for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$14K to the Town of Montague for repairs
- 2001Snow$25K to the Town of Montague for repairs
Franklin County has had 16 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 Montague after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Montague archive →Montague and its neighbors
Montague is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deerfield | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Montague | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Greenfield | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Gill | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Erving | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sunderland | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Turners Falls | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Wendell | — | 850 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Millers Falls | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Montague 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 Montague
Is Montague at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montague has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #228 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Montague flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Montague since 1996, $1K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Montague 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 Franklin County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Montague?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Montague’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 Montague?
By FEMA money that reached Montague, Snow (2001): $25K to the Town of Montague for repairs.
Is Montague at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Montague’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Montague.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Montague’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.