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AHazard risk
Natural hazards in Needham · FEMA

FEMA puts Needham’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, Needham gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #86 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 34 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 78%Hurricanes 11%Earthquakes 6%

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

less than 85%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#86 of 283 in Massachusetts
Hazard risk
A#86 of 283
in Massachusetts · lower than 85% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
78% of expected building damage
Flood claims
34
paid since 1978 · $467K
Flooded more than once
4
properties
Disasters paid out here
13
of 29 declared for Norfolk County

What stands out about Needham’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 85% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Remembers 19827 flood claims were paid for 1982 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Needham 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

78%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

11%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Earthquakes

6%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Ice storms Strong wind Lightning Hail Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Needham’s grade

River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Needham, and Needham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 11% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Needham sits
Needham
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A #86 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Needham’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding78%Hurricanes11%Earthquakes6%Everything else5%

The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Needham has less expected damage per building than 70% of Massachusetts towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.4M a year in losses across Needham: $7.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Needham covers 6 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Needham flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Needham, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 5 claims1979: 5 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 2 claims1982: 7 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 1 claim2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 3 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 1 claim2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 6 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197819822023
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $14K
34
paid claims since 1978
$467K
paid to owners
4
homes flooded more than once
$14K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Needham 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.
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Needham

Disasters that paid out in Needham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Needham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$277K to the Town of Needham for repairs
  2. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$240K to the Town of Needham for repairs
  3. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$32K to the Town of Needham for repairs
  4. 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$405K to the Town of Needham for repairs
  5. 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$280K to the Town of Needham for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  6. 2011Tropical Storm Irene$63K to the Town of Needham for repairs
Show all 13
  1. 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$146K to the Town of Needham for repairs
  2. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding205 households applied for aid$262K aid approved$200K to the Town of Needham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$149K to the Town of Needham for repairs
  4. 2004Flooding2 households applied for aid$261 aid approved
  5. 2003Snow$145K to the Town of Needham for repairs
  6. 2003Snow$103K to the Town of Needham for repairs
  7. 2001Snow$119K to the Town of Needham for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in NeedhamNorfolk County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Needham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Needham archive →
Next door

Needham and its neighbors

Needham is 4th of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Dover: hazard risk A−Newton: hazard risk A−Dedham: hazard risk AWellesley: hazard risk A−Westwood: hazard risk ABoston: hazard risk ADoverNewtonDedhamWellesleyWestwoodBostonNeedham
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
WestwoodAless damage than 95%river and rain flooding27
BostonAless damage than 92%river and rain flooding209
DedhamAless damage than 87%river and rain flooding30
NeedhamAless damage than 85%river and rain flooding34
DoverA−less damage than 84%river and rain flooding11
WellesleyA−less damage than 81%river and rain flooding36
NewtonA−less damage than 80%river and rain flooding302

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Needham faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Needham

Is Needham at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Needham has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #86 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and hurricanes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Needham flood?

Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Needham since 1978, $467K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (1).

Is Needham 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 Needham?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Needham’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 Needham?

By FEMA money that reached Needham, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 205 households applied for aid, $262K approved, and $200K to the Town of Needham for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $14K.

Is Needham at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Needham’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Needham.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Needham’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.