Twin Lights Historic District-Cape Ann Light Station · Photo: Tim Pierce · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Rockport than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockport gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #152 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (56%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 250 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 Rockport’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rockport faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Coastal flooding
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 Rockport’s grade
Coastal flooding is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rockport, and Rockport’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 27% (lower than 98% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #152 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rockport’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, Rockport has more expected damage per building than 54% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Rockport: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rockport flood? Yes: 250 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rockport, from FEMA’s records: 60.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm121 claims · $2.9M
- The December Storm - nor’easter17 claims · $126K
Rockport isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rockport
Disasters that paid out in Rockport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Rockport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$65K to the Town of Rockport for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$3.3M to the Town of Rockport for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$50K to the Town of Rockport for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$3.9M to the Town of Rockport for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of Rockport for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$174K to the Town of Rockport for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Show all 13
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$313K to the Town of Rockport for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding75 households applied for aid$117K aid approved$1.1M to the Town of Rockport for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$34K to the Town of Rockport for repairs
- 2004Flooding5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Snow$23K to the Town of Rockport for repairs
- 2003Snow$16K to the Town of Rockport for repairs
- 2001Snow$16K to the Town of Rockport for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
Essex County has had 32 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 Rockport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rockport archive →Rockport and its neighbors
Rockport has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockport | B+less damage than 74% | coastal flooding | 250 |
| Gloucester | B+less damage than 70% | coastal flooding | 322 |
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 Rockport faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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 Rockport
Is Rockport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockport has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #152 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (56%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rockport flood?
Flood insurance has paid 250 claims in Rockport since 1978, $4.7M in all, or 60.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 24 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (121).
Is Rockport 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 Essex County, 58% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rockport?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rockport’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 Rockport?
By FEMA money that reached Rockport, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2013): $3.9M to the Town of Rockport for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 121 paid, $2.9M.
Is Rockport at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Rockport’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rockport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rockport’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.