Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Plympton’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plympton gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #126 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 4 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 Plympton 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
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 Plympton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plympton, and Plympton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 11% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #126 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Plympton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Massachusetts town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Plympton has less expected damage per building than 56% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $908K a year in losses across Plympton: $777K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plympton flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plympton, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $1K
- The “Halloween” storm1 claim · $22K
- Hurricane Bob1 claim · $26K
Plympton 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 Plympton
Disasters that paid out in Plympton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Plympton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Town of Plympton for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$34K to the Town of Plympton for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$18K to the Town of Plympton for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$4K to the Town of Plympton for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$11K to the Town of Plympton for repairs
- 2010Hurricane Earl$803 to the Town of Plympton for repairs
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding27 households applied for aid$79K aid approved$26K to the Town of Plympton for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$18K to the Town of Plympton for repairs
- 2003Snow$11K to the Town of Plympton for repairs
- 2003Snow$14K to the Town of Plympton 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 Plympton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plympton archive →Plympton and its neighbors
Plympton is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Kingston | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Plympton | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Middleborough | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Halifax | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Carver | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Plympton 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.
- 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 Plympton
Is Plympton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plympton has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #126 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (11%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plympton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Plympton since 1978, $50K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (1).
Is Plympton 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 Plympton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plympton’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 Plympton?
By FEMA money that reached Plympton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 27 households applied for aid, $79K approved, and $26K to the Town of Plympton for repairs. By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Plympton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Plympton’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plympton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plympton’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.