Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Salisbury than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salisbury gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (73%), then river and rain flooding (21%). Flood insurance has paid 323 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 Salisbury’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Salisbury 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
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 Salisbury’s grade
Coastal flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Salisbury, and Salisbury’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 21% (lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts).
D #283 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Salisbury’s residents live in 3 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, Salisbury has more expected damage per building than 100% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.7M a year in losses across Salisbury: $8.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Salisbury flood? Yes: 323 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Salisbury, from FEMA’s records: 64.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm97 claims · $2.1M
- The April 2007 nor’easter27 claims · $540K
- The December Storm - nor’easter18 claims · $501K
Salisbury is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Essex County.16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Salisbury
Disasters that paid out in Salisbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Salisbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$30K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$33K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$30K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$35K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$16K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$19K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs
Show all 16
- 2010Hurricane Earl$10K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding35 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$44K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$46K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$255K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs31 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding114 households applied for aid$212K aid approved$93K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$17K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Flooding6 households applied for aid$8K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$18K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs
- 2003Snow$14K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs
- 2001Snow$13K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs1 flood claim 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 Salisbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Salisbury archive →Salisbury and its neighbors
Salisbury is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newburyport | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 226 |
| Amesbury | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Seabrook | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Salisbury | Dmore damage than 94% | coastal flooding | 323 |
| South Hampton | — | 984 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Salisbury 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.
- 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.
- Salisbury residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Salisbury
Is Salisbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salisbury has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (73%) and river and rain flooding (21%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Salisbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 323 claims in Salisbury since 1978, $7.4M in all, or 64.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 43 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (97).
Is Salisbury 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 Salisbury?
Salisbury is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Salisbury?
By FEMA money that reached Salisbury, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 114 households applied for aid, $212K approved, and $93K to the Town of Salisbury for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 97 paid, $2.1M.
Is Salisbury at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Salisbury’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Salisbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Salisbury’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.