Rotch, William J., Gothic Cottage · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in New Bedford than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Bedford gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #35 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 34 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 stands out about New Bedford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What New Bedford 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 New Bedford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Bedford, and New Bedford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A #35 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Bedford’s residents live in 31 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, New Bedford has less expected damage per building than 88% of Massachusetts towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, New Bedford has lower expected damage per building than 96% (#15 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $10.1M, is the 400th largest of those 400.
Does New Bedford flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Bedford, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Bob11 claims · $187K
- The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $6K
- Hurricane Ida2 claims · $9K
New Bedford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bristol County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Bedford
Disasters that paid out in New Bedford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of New Bedford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$24K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$333K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$192K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$223K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$324K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$248K to the City of New Bedford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 13
- 2010Hurricane Earl$44K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding160 households applied for aid$186K aid approved$5K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$348K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
- 2003Snow$115K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
- 2003Snow$74K to the City of New Bedford for repairs
Bristol County has had 22 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 New Bedford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Bedford archive →New Bedford and its neighbors
New Bedford is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 94 |
| Acushnet | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| New Bedford | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Fairhaven | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 336 |
| Acushnet Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bliss Corner | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Smith Mills | — | 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 New Bedford 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 New Bedford
Is New Bedford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Bedford has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #35 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Bedford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in New Bedford since 1979, $1.4M in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Bob (11).
Is New Bedford 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 Bristol County, 56% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Bedford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Bedford’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 New Bedford?
By FEMA money that reached New Bedford, Record And/or Near Record Snow (2005): $348K to the City of New Bedford for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Bob: 11 paid, $187K.
Is New Bedford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and New Bedford’s rate for it is lower than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Bedford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Bedford’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.