Photo: T.S. Custadio aka ToddC4176 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0For coastal flooding, Wareham’s building-damage rate is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wareham gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #206 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then coastal flooding (14%). Flood insurance has paid 750 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 Wareham’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wareham 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
Coastal 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 Wareham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wareham, and Wareham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 14%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B #206 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wareham’s residents live in 4 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, Wareham has more expected damage per building than 73% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.4M a year in losses across Wareham: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wareham flood? Yes: 750 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wareham, from FEMA’s records: 58.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Bob604 claims · $10.8M
- The March 2010 nor’easter18 claims · $102K
- Hurricane Sandy3 claims · $78K
Wareham isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Plymouth County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wareham
Disasters that paid out in Wareham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wareham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$78K to the Town of Wareham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$27K to the Town of Wareham for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$119K to the Town of Wareham for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$56K to the Town of Wareham for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$103K to the Town of Wareham for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $78K
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$255K to the Town of Wareham for repairs
Show all 12
- 2010Hurricane Earl$23K to the Town of Wareham for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding85 households applied for aid$156K aid approved$54K to the Town of Wareham for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$21K to the Town of Wareham for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$208K to the Town of Wareham for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$69K to the Town of Wareham for repairs
- 2003Snow$66K to the Town of Wareham for repairs
Plymouth County has had 25 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Wareham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wareham archive →Wareham and its neighbors
Wareham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 334 |
| Marion | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Middleborough | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Bourne | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 396 |
| Wareham | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 750 |
| Rochester | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Carver | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Weweantic | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Buzzards Bay | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| West Wareham | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| White Island Shores | — | 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 Wareham 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.
- 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.
- 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 Wareham
Is Wareham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wareham has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #206 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and coastal flooding (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wareham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 750 claims in Wareham since 1978, $11.9M in all, or 58.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 21 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Bob (604).
Is Wareham 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 Plymouth County, 52% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wareham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wareham’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 Wareham?
By FEMA money that reached Wareham, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): $255K to the Town of Wareham for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Bob: 604 paid, $10.8M.
Is Wareham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Wareham’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wareham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wareham’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.