Old Centre Historic District · Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Winchendon faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winchendon gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #218 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1987.
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 Winchendon 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 Winchendon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Winchendon, and Winchendon’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 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B #218 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Winchendon’s residents live in 3 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, Winchendon has more expected damage per building than 77% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Winchendon: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Winchendon flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Winchendon, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Winchendon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Worcester County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Winchendon
Disasters that paid out in Winchendon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Winchendon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$32K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$32K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$40K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$3K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$132K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs
Show all 11
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$772 aid approved
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$38K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs
- 2003Snow$18K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs
- 2003Snow$22K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs
- 2001Snow$16K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs
Worcester County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Winchendon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Winchendon archive →Winchendon and its neighbors
Winchendon is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Templeton | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ashburnham | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Rindge | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Winchendon | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Royalston | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Winchendon 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 Winchendon
Is Winchendon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winchendon has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #218 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Winchendon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Winchendon since 1987, $420 in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Winchendon 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 Worcester County, 65% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Winchendon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Winchendon’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 Winchendon?
By FEMA money that reached Winchendon, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (2008): $132K to the Town of Winchendon for repairs.
Is Winchendon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Winchendon’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Winchendon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Winchendon’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.