Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0For coastal flooding, Quincy’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Quincy gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #241 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then coastal flooding (17%). Flood insurance has paid 1,430 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 Quincy’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Quincy 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
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 Quincy’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Quincy, and Quincy’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 17%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #241 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Quincy’s residents live in 24 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, Quincy has more expected damage per building than 85% of Massachusetts towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Quincy has lower expected damage per building than 59% (#166 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $20.4M, is the 389th largest of those 400.
Does Quincy flood? Yes: 1,430 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Quincy, from FEMA’s records: 29.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm179 claims · $1.5M
- The March 2010 nor’easter159 claims · $2.0M
- The December Storm - nor’easter107 claims · $649K
Quincy is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Norfolk County.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Quincy
Disasters that paid out in Quincy itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Quincy), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$720K to the City of Quincy for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$452K to the City of Quincy for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$6.0M to the City of Quincy for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$756K to the City of Quincy for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$540K to the City of Quincy for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$133K to the City of Quincy for repairs
Show all 15
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$258K to the City of Quincy for repairs
- 2010Hurricane Earl$23K to the City of Quincy for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding700 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$805K to the City of Quincy for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding34 households applied for aid$85K aid approved
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$342K to the City of Quincy for repairs
- 2004Flooding4 households applied for aid$7K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$196K to the City of Quincy for repairs
- 2003Snow$214K to the City of Quincy for repairs
- 2001Snow$355K to the City of Quincy for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
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 Quincy after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Quincy archive →Quincy and its neighbors
Quincy is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 209 |
| Milton | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 54 |
| Weymouth Town | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 214 |
| Randolph Town | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Quincy | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1,430 |
| Braintree Town | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Hull | Dmore damage than 92% | coastal flooding | 1,980 |
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 Quincy 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.
- 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.
- Quincy residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Quincy
Is Quincy at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Quincy has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #241 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and coastal flooding (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Quincy flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,430 claims in Quincy since 1978, $13.9M in all, or 29.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 201 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (179).
Is Quincy 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 Quincy?
Quincy is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Quincy?
By FEMA money that reached Quincy, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (2018): $6.0M to the City of Quincy for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 179 paid, $1.5M.
Is Quincy at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Quincy’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Quincy.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Quincy’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.