Photo: Vinnyanabg · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Wilmington than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilmington gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #104 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then earthquakes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 26 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 Wilmington’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wilmington 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
Earthquakes
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 Wilmington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wilmington, and Wilmington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #104 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wilmington’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, Wilmington has less expected damage per building than 63% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.4M a year in losses across Wilmington: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wilmington flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wilmington, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter5 claims · $35K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $2K
Wilmington 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wilmington
Disasters that paid out in Wilmington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wilmington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$125K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$110K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$131K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$16K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$19K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$96K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
Show all 14
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding432 households applied for aid$934K aid approved$65K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$25K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding165 households applied for aid$285K aid approved$39K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$111K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
- 2004Flooding21 households applied for aid$24K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$107K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
- 2003Snow$63K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs
- 2001Snow$60K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
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 Wilmington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wilmington archive →Wilmington and its neighbors
Wilmington is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Woburn | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Burlington | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Billerica | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 279 |
| Tewksbury | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Wilmington | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| North Reading | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 92 |
| Andover | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 147 |
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 Wilmington 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Wilmington
Is Wilmington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilmington has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #104 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and earthquakes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wilmington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Wilmington since 1978, $172K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (5).
Is Wilmington 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 Wilmington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wilmington’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 Wilmington?
By FEMA money that reached Wilmington, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 432 households applied for aid, $934K approved, and $65K to the Town of Wilmington for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 5 paid, $35K.
Is Wilmington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Wilmington’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wilmington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wilmington’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.