West Chop Club Historic District · Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Tisbury than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tisbury gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #149 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%), then hurricanes (34%). Flood insurance has paid 23 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 Tisbury’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Tisbury 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
Coastal flooding
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 Tisbury’s grade
River and rain flooding is 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tisbury, and Tisbury’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 12%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #149 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Tisbury’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, Tisbury has more expected damage per building than 52% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Tisbury: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tisbury flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tisbury, from FEMA’s records: 6.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Bob6 claims · $48K
- The “Halloween” storm4 claims · $54K
- The December Storm - nor’easter2 claims · $88K
Tisbury isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dukes County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tisbury
Disasters that paid out in Tisbury itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Tisbury), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$13K to the Town of Tisbury for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$51K to the Town of Tisbury for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$7K to the Town of Tisbury for repairs
- 2010Hurricane Earl$4K to the Town of Tisbury for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$2K to the Town of Tisbury for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$16K to the Town of Tisbury for repairs
Dukes County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Tisbury after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tisbury archive →Tisbury and its neighbors
Tisbury has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tisbury | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| West Tisbury | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Oak Bluffs | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Gosnold | — | 31 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Tisbury 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Tisbury
Is Tisbury at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tisbury has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #149 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%) and hurricanes (34%). 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 Tisbury flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Tisbury since 1978, $277K in all, or 6.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Bob (6).
Is Tisbury 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 Dukes County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tisbury?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tisbury’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 Tisbury?
By FEMA money that reached Tisbury, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $51K to the Town of Tisbury for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Bob: 6 paid, $48K.
Is Tisbury at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Tisbury’s rate for it is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tisbury.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tisbury’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.