Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Newburyport’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newburyport gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #202 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then coastal flooding (13%). Flood insurance has paid 226 claims here since 1978.
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 Newburyport’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Newburyport 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
Coastal flooding
Earthquakes
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 Newburyport’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Newburyport, and Newburyport’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 13%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B #202 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Newburyport’s residents live in 4 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, Newburyport has more expected damage per building than 71% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across Newburyport: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Newburyport flood? Yes: 226 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Newburyport, from FEMA’s records: 25.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm39 claims · $234K
- The April 2007 nor’easter18 claims · $303K
Newburyport isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Newburyport
Disasters that paid out in Newburyport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Newburyport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$63K to the City of Newburyport for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$99K to the City of Newburyport for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$758K to the City of Newburyport for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$91K to the City of Newburyport for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$3K to the City of Newburyport for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$70K to the City of Newburyport for repairs
Show all 14
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding57 households applied for aid$89K aid approved$30K to the City of Newburyport for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$44K to the City of Newburyport for repairs19 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding110 households applied for aid$182K aid approved$86K to the City of Newburyport for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$41K to the City of Newburyport for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Flooding19 households applied for aid$18K aid approved
- 2003Snow$45K to the City of Newburyport for repairs
- 2003Snow$21K to the City of Newburyport for repairs
- 2001Snow$28K to the City of Newburyport for repairs
Essex County has had 32 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 Newburyport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Newburyport archive →Newburyport and its neighbors
Newburyport has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newburyport | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 226 |
| West Newbury | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Newbury | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 199 |
| Amesbury | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Salisbury | Dmore damage than 94% | coastal flooding | 323 |
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 Newburyport 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Newburyport
Is Newburyport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newburyport has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #202 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and coastal flooding (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Newburyport flood?
Flood insurance has paid 226 claims in Newburyport since 1978, $3.1M in all, or 25.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 29 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (39).
Is Newburyport 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 Essex County, 58% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Newburyport?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Newburyport’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 Newburyport?
By FEMA money that reached Newburyport, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2015): $758K to the City of Newburyport for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 39 paid, $234K.
Is Newburyport at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Newburyport’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Newburyport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Newburyport’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.