WPA Field House · Photo: Electrachrome · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Scituate faces less hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Scituate gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #179 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then coastal flooding (34%). Flood insurance has paid 3,519 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 Scituate’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Scituate 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
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 Scituate’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Scituate, and Scituate’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 34%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #179 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Scituate’s residents live in 5 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, Scituate has more expected damage per building than 63% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Scituate: $4.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Scituate flood? Yes: 3,519 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Scituate, from FEMA’s records: 418.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm846 claims · $28.8M
- The December Storm - nor’easter468 claims · $6.0M
Scituate is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Plymouth County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Scituate
Disasters that paid out in Scituate itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Scituate), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$101K to the Town of Scituate for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$3.2M to the Town of Scituate for repairs232 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$1.5M to the Town of Scituate for repairs104 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$2.2M to the Town of Scituate for repairs222 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$170K to the Town of Scituate for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $71K
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$42K to the Town of Scituate for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding75 households applied for aid$111K aid approved186 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$789K to the Town of Scituate for repairs41 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$521 aid approved
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$142K to the Town of Scituate for repairs
- 2003Snow$63K to the Town of Scituate for repairs
- 2003Snow$82K to the Town of Scituate 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 Scituate after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Scituate archive →Scituate and its neighbors
Scituate is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwell | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Hingham | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 100 |
| Cohasset | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 107 |
| Scituate | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3,519 |
| Marshfield | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1,466 |
| Marshfield Hills | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| North Scituate | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock | — | 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 Scituate 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.
- 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.
- Scituate residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Scituate
Is Scituate at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Scituate has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #179 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and coastal flooding (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Scituate flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3,519 claims in Scituate since 1978, $72.9M in all, or 418.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 537 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (846).
Is Scituate 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 Scituate?
Scituate is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Scituate?
By FEMA money that reached Scituate, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (2018): $3.2M to the Town of Scituate for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 846 paid, $28.8M.
Is Scituate at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Scituate’s rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Scituate.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Scituate’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.