Photo: 4300streetcar · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Somerville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somerville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #196 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 26 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 Somerville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Somerville 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 Somerville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Somerville, and Somerville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B #196 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Somerville’s residents live in 25 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, Somerville has more expected damage per building than 69% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.7M a year in losses across Somerville: $10.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Somerville flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Somerville, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm1 claim · $545
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $1K
Somerville 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Somerville
Disasters that paid out in Somerville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Somerville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$397K to the City of Somerville for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$264K to the City of Somerville for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the City of Somerville for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$68K to the City of Somerville for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$161K to the City of Somerville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding94 households applied for aid$54K aid approved$61K to the City of Somerville for repairs
Show all 12
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$18K aid approved$108K to the City of Somerville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$174K to the City of Somerville for repairs
- 2004Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2003Snow$120K to the City of Somerville for repairs
- 2003Snow$54K to the City of Somerville for repairs
- 2001Snow$67K to the City of Somerville 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 Somerville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Somerville archive →Somerville and its neighbors
Somerville is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 209 |
| Cambridge | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Everett | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Somerville | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Medford | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Arlington | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 410 |
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 Somerville 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 Somerville
Is Somerville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somerville has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #196 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Somerville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Somerville since 1978, $917K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (1).
Is Somerville 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 Somerville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Somerville’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 Somerville?
By FEMA money that reached Somerville, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2015): $397K to the City of Somerville for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 1 paid, $545.
Is Somerville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Somerville’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Somerville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Somerville’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.