Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0FEMA puts Rehoboth’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rehoboth gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #174 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1983.
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 Rehoboth 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 Rehoboth’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rehoboth, and Rehoboth’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #174 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rehoboth’s residents live in 2 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, Rehoboth has more expected damage per building than 61% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Rehoboth: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rehoboth flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rehoboth, from FEMA’s records: 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter5 claims · $69K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $12K
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $2K
Rehoboth isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bristol County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rehoboth
Disasters that paid out in Rehoboth itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Rehoboth), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$102K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$60K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$69K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$67K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$31K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $12K
Show all 12
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding157 households applied for aid$240K aid approved$208K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$42K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs
- 2003Snow$33K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs
- 2003Snow$36K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs
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.
Old photos of Rehoboth after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rehoboth archive →Rehoboth and its neighbors
Rehoboth is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 100 |
| Seekonk | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Attleboro | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Norton | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Taunton | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Rehoboth | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
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 Rehoboth 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 Rehoboth
Is Rehoboth at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rehoboth has lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #174 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rehoboth flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Rehoboth since 1983, $116K in all, or 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (5).
Is Rehoboth 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 Rehoboth?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rehoboth’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 Rehoboth?
By FEMA money that reached Rehoboth, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 157 households applied for aid, $240K approved, and $208K to the Town of Rehoboth for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 5 paid, $69K.
Is Rehoboth at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Rehoboth’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rehoboth.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rehoboth’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.