Photo: Tom Walsh · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Sunderland than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sunderland gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #259 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 Sunderland 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 Sunderland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sunderland, and Sunderland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #259 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Sunderland’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, Sunderland has more expected damage per building than 91% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Sunderland: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sunderland flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sunderland, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sunderland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sunderland
Disasters that paid out in Sunderland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Sunderland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$13K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$44K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$1K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$60K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$55K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$10K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs
Show all 9
- 2003Snow$8K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs
- 2003Snow$9K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs
- 2001Snow$5K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs
Franklin County has had 16 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 Sunderland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sunderland archive →Sunderland and its neighbors
Sunderland is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deerfield | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Leverett | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Montague | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Whately | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Sunderland | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| South Deerfield | — | 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 Sunderland 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 Sunderland
Is Sunderland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sunderland has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #259 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (8%). 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 Sunderland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Sunderland since 2005, $18K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Sunderland 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 Franklin County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Sunderland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sunderland’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 Sunderland?
By FEMA money that reached Sunderland, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): 4 households applied for aid, $11K approved, and $55K to the Town of Sunderland for repairs.
Is Sunderland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Sunderland’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sunderland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sunderland’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.