Photo: Craig Michaud at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Mason than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mason gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then hurricanes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2011.
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 Mason 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
Tornadoes
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 Mason’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mason, and Mason’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Mason’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $346K a year in losses across Mason: $284K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mason flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mason, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mason isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hillsborough County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mason
Disasters that paid out in Mason itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Mason), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$2K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$10K to the Town of Mason for repairs
Show all 13
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$71K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$741 aid approved$59K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$4K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$6K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2003Snow$6K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2003Snow$6K to the Town of Mason for repairs
- 2001Snow$4K to the Town of Mason for repairs
Hillsborough County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Mason after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mason archive →Mason and its neighbors
Mason has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| New Ipswich | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Greenville | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Brookline | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Wilton | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Mason 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Mason
Is Mason at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mason has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and hurricanes (19%). 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 Mason flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Mason since 2011, $8K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Mason 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 Hillsborough County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mason?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mason’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 Mason?
By FEMA money that reached Mason, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $71K to the Town of Mason for repairs.
Is Mason at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Mason’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mason.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mason’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.