Photo: Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Southbridge Town than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southbridge Town gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #276 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 2005.
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 Southbridge Town 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
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 Southbridge Town’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Southbridge Town, and Southbridge Town’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #276 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Southbridge Town’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, Southbridge Town has more expected damage per building than 98% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Southbridge Town: $6.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Southbridge Town flood? Sometimes: 18 flood claims since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Southbridge Town, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $5K
Southbridge Town isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Worcester County.The storms Southbridge Town remembers
None of the 27 disasters declared for Worcester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Southbridge Town itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200515 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Worcester County
- 20113 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storm and Snowstorm, declared for Worcester County
Worcester County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Southbridge Town after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Southbridge Town archive →Southbridge Town and its neighbors
Southbridge Town 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlton | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Sturbridge | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Dudley | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Southbridge Town | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
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 Southbridge Town 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.
- 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 Southbridge Town
Is Southbridge Town at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southbridge Town has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #276 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Southbridge Town flood?
Flood insurance has paid 18 claims in Southbridge Town since 2005, $992K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Southbridge Town 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 Worcester County, 65% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Southbridge Town?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Southbridge Town’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 Southbridge Town?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $5K.
Is Southbridge Town at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Southbridge Town’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Southbridge Town.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Southbridge Town’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.