Photo: D-Day · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Boston 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, Boston gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #538 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). Flood insurance has paid 13 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 Boston 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
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 Boston’s grade
River and rain flooding is 98% of the building damage FEMA expects in Boston, and Boston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #538 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Boston’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Boston has more expected damage per building than 71% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Boston: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Boston flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Boston, from FEMA’s records: 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late summer storms4 claims · $33K
Boston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Erie County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Boston
Disasters that paid out in Boston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Boston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$140K to the Town of Boston for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding26 households applied for aid$46K aid approved$29K to the Town of Boston for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$83K to the Town of Boston for repairs
- 2001Severe Winter Storm$17K to the Town of Boston for repairs
- 2001Snow$62K to the Town of Boston for repairs
- 2000Snow$12K to the Town of Boston for repairs
Show all 8
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$216K to the Town of Boston for repairs
- 1999Snow$34K to the Town of Boston for repairs
Erie County has had 20 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; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Boston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Boston archive →Boston and its neighbors
Boston is 6th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Collins | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Eden | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Orchard Park | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Concord | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Hamburg | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 173 |
| Boston | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Colden | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| North Boston | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Boston 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.
- 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 Boston
Is Boston at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boston has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #538 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (98%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Boston flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Boston since 1978, $178K in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late summer storms (4).
Is Boston 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 Erie County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Boston?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Boston’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 Boston?
By FEMA money that reached Boston, Severe Storms and Flooding (2000): $216K to the Town of Boston for repairs. By flood claims, Late summer storms: 4 paid, $33K.
Is Boston at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (98%), and Boston’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Boston.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Boston’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.