Fred Holland Day House · Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0FEMA puts Norwood’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norwood gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #58 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 23 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 Norwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Norwood 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 Norwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Norwood, and Norwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
A #58 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Norwood’s residents live in 7 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, Norwood has less expected damage per building than 80% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.8M a year in losses across Norwood: $5.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Norwood flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Norwood, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter9 claims · $510K
Norwood 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Norwood
Disasters that paid out in Norwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Norwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$311K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$195K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$94K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$294K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$312K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$92K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
Show all 14
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$172K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding257 households applied for aid$247K aid approved$84K to the Town of Norwood for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$191K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
- 2004Flooding2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2003Snow$145K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
- 2003Snow$105K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
- 2001Snow$133K to the Town of Norwood for repairs
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.
Old photos of Norwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Norwood archive →Norwood and its neighbors
Norwood is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Westwood | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Walpole | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Canton | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Norwood | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
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 Norwood 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 Norwood
Is Norwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norwood has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #58 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Norwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Norwood since 1979, $812K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (9).
Is Norwood 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 Norwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Norwood’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 Norwood?
By FEMA money that reached Norwood, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 257 households applied for aid, $247K approved, and $84K to the Town of Norwood for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 9 paid, $510K.
Is Norwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Norwood’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Norwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Norwood’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.