Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Tyngsborough faces less hazard damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tyngsborough gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #198 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 25 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 Tyngsborough’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Tyngsborough 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 Tyngsborough’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tyngsborough, and Tyngsborough’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B #198 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tyngsborough’s residents live in 2 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, Tyngsborough has more expected damage per building than 70% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Tyngsborough: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tyngsborough flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tyngsborough, from FEMA’s records: 5.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter6 claims · $642K
Tyngsborough 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.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tyngsborough
Disasters that paid out in Tyngsborough itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Tyngsborough), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$59K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$90K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$63K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$85K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$12K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$61K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$78K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$18K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$58K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
- 2003Snow$53K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
- 2003Snow$39K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs
- 2001Snow$36K to the Town of Tyngsborough 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 Tyngsborough after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tyngsborough archive →Tyngsborough and its neighbors
Tyngsborough is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westford | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Dunstable | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Groton | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Chelmsford | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Tyngsborough | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Dracut | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Lowell | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 195 |
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 Tyngsborough 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 Tyngsborough
Is Tyngsborough at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tyngsborough has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #198 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tyngsborough flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Tyngsborough since 1978, $2.2M in all, or 5.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (6).
Is Tyngsborough 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 Tyngsborough?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tyngsborough’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 Tyngsborough?
By FEMA money that reached Tyngsborough, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2015): $90K to the Town of Tyngsborough for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 6 paid, $642K.
Is Tyngsborough at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Tyngsborough’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tyngsborough.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tyngsborough’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.