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Norton Town CommonPhoto: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) · Public domain
B+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Norton · FEMA

FEMA puts Norton’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norton gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #154 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 44 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 82%Hurricanes 10%Earthquakes 4%

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 74%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#154 of 283 in Massachusetts
Hazard risk
B+#154 of 283
in Massachusetts · lower than 74% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
82% of expected building damage
Flood claims
44
paid since 1978 · $323K
Flooded more than once
6
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Flood insurance
05% off
Community discount (class 9)

What stands out about Norton’s natural hazards

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

Lower expected damage than 74% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.05% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Norton residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9).Remembers 199814 flood claims were paid for 1998 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Norton 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

82%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

10%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 5 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Strong wind Ice storms Wildfire Lightning Hail 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 Norton’s grade

River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Norton, and Norton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Norton sits
Norton
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B+ #154 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Norton’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding82%Hurricanes10%Earthquakes4%Everything else3%

The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Norton has more expected damage per building than 54% of Massachusetts towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Norton: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Norton covers 4 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 Norton flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Norton, from FEMA’s records: 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 0 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 1 claim1983: 0 claims1984: 2 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 6 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 14 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 6 claims2006: 1 claim2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 10 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199219982010
19782026
Biggest named events
  • The March 2010 nor’easter10 claims · $94K
  • The December Storm - nor’easter6 claims · $19K
44
paid claims since 1978
$323K
paid to owners
6
homes flooded more than once
$7K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount05% off flood insurance

Norton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Bristol County.
Disasters

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Norton

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

  1. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
  2. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$23K to the Town of Norton for repairs
  3. 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$71K to the Town of Norton for repairs
  4. 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$81K to the Town of Norton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 2012Hurricane Sandy$23K to the Town of Norton for repairs
  6. 2011Tropical Storm Irene$24K to the Town of Norton for repairs
Show all 12
  1. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding495 households applied for aid$753K aid approved$29K to the Town of Norton for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
  3. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$16K to the Town of Norton for repairs
  4. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$60K to the Town of Norton for repairs
  5. 2003Snow$36K to the Town of Norton for repairs
  6. 2003Snow$26K to the Town of Norton for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in NortonBristol County only

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.

Were you here?

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

Add to the Norton archive →
Next door

Norton and its neighbors

Norton is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Mansfield: hazard risk A−Taunton: hazard risk B+Rehoboth: hazard risk B+MansfieldTauntonRehobothNorton
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
MansfieldA−less damage than 84%river and rain flooding5
NortonB+less damage than 74%river and rain flooding44
TauntonB+less damage than 70%river and rain flooding67
RehobothB+less damage than 69%river and rain flooding11

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 Norton 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 ↗
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.
  • Norton residents get 05% off flood insurance.
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 Norton

Is Norton at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norton has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #154 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Norton flood?

Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Norton since 1978, $323K in all, or 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (10).

Is Norton 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 Norton?

Norton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.

What was the biggest storm in Norton?

By FEMA money that reached Norton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 495 households applied for aid, $753K approved, and $29K to the Town of Norton for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 10 paid, $94K.

Is Norton at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Norton’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Norton.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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