Photo: T.S. Custadio aka ToddC4176 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Pembroke faces less hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pembroke gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #41 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 6 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 Pembroke 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
Coastal flooding
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 Pembroke’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pembroke, and Pembroke’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 6%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A #41 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pembroke’s residents live in 3 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, Pembroke has less expected damage per building than 86% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Pembroke: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pembroke flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pembroke, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $20K
Pembroke isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Plymouth County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pembroke
Disasters that paid out in Pembroke itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Pembroke), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$124K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$48K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$130K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$36K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$38K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding271 households applied for aid$447K aid approved$24K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$115K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs
- 2003Snow$57K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs
- 2003Snow$61K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs
Plymouth County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Pembroke after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pembroke archive →Pembroke and its neighbors
Pembroke has the lowest expected damage per building of the 9 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Kingston | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Hanover | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Hanson | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Norwell | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Plympton | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Halifax | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Duxbury | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 396 |
| Marshfield | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1,466 |
| North Pembroke | — | 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 Pembroke 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.
- 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.
- 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 Pembroke
Is Pembroke at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pembroke has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #41 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pembroke flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Pembroke since 1979, $22K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (2).
Is Pembroke 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 Plymouth County, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pembroke?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pembroke’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 Pembroke?
By FEMA money that reached Pembroke, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 271 households applied for aid, $447K approved, and $24K to the Town of Pembroke for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $20K.
Is Pembroke at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Pembroke’s rate for it is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pembroke.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pembroke’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.