Photo: Connor Williams · CC BY 2.0For coastal flooding, Wellfleet’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wellfleet gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #243 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (44%), then river and rain flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 29 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 Wellfleet’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wellfleet faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Coastal flooding
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 Wellfleet’s grade
Coastal flooding is 44% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wellfleet, and Wellfleet’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 30% (lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #243 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Wellfleet’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, Wellfleet has more expected damage per building than 86% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Wellfleet: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wellfleet flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wellfleet, from FEMA’s records: 6.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Wellfleet is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Barnstable County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wellfleet
Disasters that paid out in Wellfleet itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wellfleet), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$15K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$42K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$113K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$19K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$25K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs
- 2010Hurricane Earl$5K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 9
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$53K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$11K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs
- 2003Snow$14K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs
Barnstable County has had 18 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 Wellfleet after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wellfleet archive →Wellfleet and its neighbors
Wellfleet is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastham | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Truro | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Wellfleet | B−more damage than 52% | coastal flooding | 29 |
| North Eastham | — | 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 Wellfleet faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Wellfleet residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Wellfleet
Is Wellfleet at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wellfleet has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #243 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (44%) and river and rain flooding (30%). 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 Wellfleet flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Wellfleet since 1978, $581K in all, or 6.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Wellfleet 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 Barnstable County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wellfleet?
Wellfleet is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Wellfleet?
By FEMA money that reached Wellfleet, Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (2013): $113K to the Town of Wellfleet for repairs.
Is Wellfleet at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (44%), and Wellfleet’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wellfleet.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wellfleet’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.