Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0Revere’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Revere gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #195 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then coastal flooding (21%). Flood insurance has paid 2,147 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 Revere’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Revere 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
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 Revere’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Revere, and Revere’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 21%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B #195 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Revere’s residents live in 14 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, Revere has more expected damage per building than 69% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.5M a year in losses across Revere: $8.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Revere flood? Yes: 2,147 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Revere, from FEMA’s records: 88.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm393 claims · $5.1M
- The December Storm - nor’easter192 claims · $1.7M
Revere isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Suffolk County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Revere
Disasters that paid out in Revere itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Revere), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$184K to the City of Revere for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$153K to the City of Revere for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$340K to the City of Revere for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$157K to the City of Revere for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$44K to the City of Revere for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$140K to the City of Revere for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding259 households applied for aid$338K aid approved$77K to the City of Revere for repairs45 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding409 households applied for aid$710K aid approved134 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$135K to the City of Revere for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Flooding78 households applied for aid$123K aid approved49 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$103K to the City of Revere for repairs
- 2003Snow$63K to the City of Revere for repairs
Suffolk County has had 30 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Revere after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Revere archive →Revere and its neighbors
Revere is 6th of the 9 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 |
| Nahant | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 341 |
| Winthrop Town | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1,045 |
| Chelsea | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Everett | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Revere | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 2,147 |
| Lynn | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 251 |
| Malden | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Saugus | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 281 |
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 Revere 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.
- 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 Revere
Is Revere at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Revere has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #195 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and coastal flooding (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Revere flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2,147 claims in Revere since 1978, $15.8M in all, or 88.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 289 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (393).
Is Revere 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 Suffolk County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Revere?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Revere’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 Revere?
By FEMA money that reached Revere, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 409 households applied for aid, $710K approved. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 393 paid, $5.1M.
Is Revere at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Revere’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Revere.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Revere’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.