Capt. Josiah Locke House · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Winchester as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winchester gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #225 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 145 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 stands out about Winchester’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Winchester 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 Winchester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Winchester, and Winchester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #225 of 283 in Massachusetts; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Winchester’s residents live in 5 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, Winchester has more expected damage per building than 79% of Massachusetts towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.6M a year in losses across Winchester: $7.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Winchester flood? Yes: 145 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Winchester, from FEMA’s records: 17.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter45 claims · $2.6M
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $16K
Winchester is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Winchester
Disasters that paid out in Winchester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Winchester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$72K to the Town of Winchester for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$85K to the Town of Winchester for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$80K to the Town of Winchester for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$18K to the Town of Winchester for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$20K to the Town of Winchester for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $9K
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$57K to the Town of Winchester for repairs
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding199 households applied for aid$268K aid approved$48K to the Town of Winchester for repairs45 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding57 households applied for aid$172K aid approved$38K to the Town of Winchester for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$82K to the Town of Winchester for repairs
- 2004Flooding35 households applied for aid$35K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$77K to the Town of Winchester for repairs
- 2003Snow$47K to the Town of Winchester for repairs
- 2001Snow$36K to the Town of Winchester for repairs22 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 Winchester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Winchester archive →Winchester and its neighbors
Winchester is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woburn | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Stoneham | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lexington | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Winchester | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 145 |
| Medford | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Arlington | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 410 |
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 Winchester 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.
- Winchester residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Winchester
Is Winchester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Winchester has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #225 of 283 in Massachusetts. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Winchester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 145 claims in Winchester since 1979, $4.0M in all, or 17.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 29 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (45).
Is Winchester 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 Winchester?
Winchester is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Winchester?
By FEMA money that reached Winchester, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 199 households applied for aid, $268K approved, and $48K to the Town of Winchester for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 45 paid, $2.6M.
Is Winchester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Winchester’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Winchester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Winchester’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.