Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Pawtucket faces less hazard damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pawtucket gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #23 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 30 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 Pawtucket’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pawtucket 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
Earthquakes
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 Pawtucket’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pawtucket, and Pawtucket’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #23 of 38 in Rhode Island; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pawtucket’s residents live in 21 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Rhode Island town has lower expected damage than 76% of U.S. towns; within the state, Pawtucket has more expected damage per building than 59% of Rhode Island towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.3M a year in losses across Pawtucket: $10.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pawtucket flood? Sometimes: 30 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pawtucket, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter4 claims · $151K
- Hurricane Bob1 claim · $1K
Pawtucket is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Providence County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pawtucket
Disasters that paid out in Pawtucket itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Pawtucket), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding98 households applied for aid$264K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding51 households applied for aid$146K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes40 households applied for aid$25K aid approved
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$208K to the City of Pawtucket for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$290K to the City of Pawtucket for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$219K to the City of Pawtucket for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$423K to the City of Pawtucket for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding222 households applied for aid$113K aid approved$18K to the City of Pawtucket for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$168K to the City of Pawtucket for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$70K to the City of Pawtucket for repairs
Providence County has had 18 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 Pawtucket after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pawtucket archive →Pawtucket and its neighbors
Pawtucket is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seekonk | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| East Providence | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 85 |
| Attleboro | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Pawtucket | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Providence | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 289 |
| Central Falls | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| North Providence | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
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 Pawtucket 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- Pawtucket residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Pawtucket
Is Pawtucket at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pawtucket has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #23 of 38 in Rhode Island. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pawtucket flood?
Flood insurance has paid 30 claims in Pawtucket since 1978, $1.7M in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (4).
Is Pawtucket 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 Providence County, 58% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pawtucket?
Pawtucket is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Pawtucket?
By FEMA money that reached Pawtucket, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): $423K to the City of Pawtucket for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 4 paid, $151K.
Is Pawtucket at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Pawtucket’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pawtucket.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pawtucket’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.