Photo: Jeff Jason II (jeffjason.com) AKA UmassThrower · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Westfield faces more hazard damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westfield gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #278 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 35 claims here since 1979.
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 Westfield 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 Westfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Westfield, and Westfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
D #278 of 283 in Massachusetts; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Westfield’s residents live in 8 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, Westfield has more expected damage per building than 98% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.7M a year in losses across Westfield: $15.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Westfield flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Westfield, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene12 claims · $933K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $25K
Westfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hampden County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Westfield
Disasters that paid out in Westfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Westfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$170K to the City of Westfield for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$146K to the City of Westfield for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$665K to the City of Westfield for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $933K
- 2011Severe Storms and Tornadoes93 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$353K to the City of Westfield for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$109K to the City of Westfield for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$339K to the City of Westfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$7K to the City of Westfield for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$122K to the City of Westfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$126K to the City of Westfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$123K to the City of Westfield for repairs
Hampden County has had 18 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 Westfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Westfield archive →Westfield and its neighbors
Westfield is 8th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Holyoke | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| West Springfield Town | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Southwick | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Agawam Town | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Russell | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Granville | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Westfield | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Montgomery | — | 796 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 Westfield 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 Westfield
Is Westfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westfield has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #278 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Westfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Westfield since 1979, $1.2M in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (12).
Is Westfield 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 Hampden County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Westfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Westfield’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 Westfield?
By FEMA money that reached Westfield, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): $665K to the City of Westfield for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 12 paid, $933K.
Is Westfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Westfield’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Westfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Westfield’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.