Photo: T.S. Custadio aka ToddC4176 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Rochester as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rochester gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #211 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Rochester 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 Rochester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rochester, and Rochester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
B #211 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Rochester’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, Rochester has more expected damage per building than 74% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Rochester: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rochester flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rochester, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Rochester 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rochester
Disasters that paid out in Rochester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Rochester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$43K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$49K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$53K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$69K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$13K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$36K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding55 households applied for aid$74K aid approved$17K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$65K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$31K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
- 2003Snow$17K to the Town of Rochester for repairs
- 2003Snow$16K to the Town of Rochester 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 Rochester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rochester archive →Rochester and its neighbors
Rochester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acushnet | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Marion | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Middleborough | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Mattapoisett | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 389 |
| Wareham | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 750 |
| Rochester | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| West Wareham | — | 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 Rochester 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 Rochester
Is Rochester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rochester has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #211 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (9%). 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 Rochester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Rochester since 1978, $4K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Rochester 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 Rochester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rochester’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 Rochester?
By FEMA money that reached Rochester, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 55 households applied for aid, $74K approved, and $17K to the Town of Rochester for repairs.
Is Rochester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Rochester’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rochester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rochester’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.