Photo: Bob Burkhardt · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Shirley than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shirley gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #66 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Shirley 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
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 Shirley’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shirley, and Shirley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A #66 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shirley’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, Shirley has less expected damage per building than 77% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Shirley: $982K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shirley flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shirley, from FEMA’s records: 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $124K
- The April 2007 nor’easter2 claims · $22K
Shirley isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shirley
Disasters that paid out in Shirley itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Shirley), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$20K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$22K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$7K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding28 households applied for aid$73K aid approved$228K to the Town of Shirley for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$71K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$34K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
- 2004Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2003Snow$15K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
- 2003Snow$20K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
- 2001Snow$24K to the Town of Shirley for repairs
Middlesex County has had 27 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 Shirley after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shirley archive →Shirley and its neighbors
Shirley is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayer | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Harvard | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Shirley | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Lunenburg | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Groton | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Devens | — | 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 Shirley 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.
- 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 Shirley
Is Shirley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shirley has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #66 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (11%). 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 Shirley flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Shirley since 1978, $165K in all, or 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (2).
Is Shirley 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shirley?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shirley’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 Shirley?
By FEMA money that reached Shirley, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 28 households applied for aid, $73K approved, and $228K to the Town of Shirley for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $124K.
Is Shirley at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Shirley’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shirley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shirley’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.