Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Sturbridge than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sturbridge gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #186 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then hurricanes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1982.
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 Sturbridge 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 Sturbridge’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sturbridge, and Sturbridge’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #186 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sturbridge’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, Sturbridge has more expected damage per building than 66% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Sturbridge: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sturbridge flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sturbridge, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sturbridge 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sturbridge
Disasters that paid out in Sturbridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Sturbridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$90K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$59K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$1.2M to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$22K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Tornadoes62 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$189K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$409 aid approved
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$18K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$70K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$35K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2003Snow$31K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2003Snow$24K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs
- 2001Snow$19K to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
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 Sturbridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sturbridge archive →Sturbridge and its neighbors
Sturbridge is 2nd of the 7 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 |
| Brimfield | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Holland | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| East Brookfield | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Brookfield | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| 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 Sturbridge 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 Sturbridge
Is Sturbridge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sturbridge has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #186 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and hurricanes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sturbridge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Sturbridge since 1982, $38K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Sturbridge 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 Sturbridge?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sturbridge’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 Sturbridge?
By FEMA money that reached Sturbridge, Severe Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $1.2M to the Town of Sturbridge for repairs.
Is Sturbridge at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Sturbridge’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sturbridge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sturbridge’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.