Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lunenburg as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lunenburg gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Lunenburg 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 Lunenburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lunenburg, and Lunenburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B− higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lunenburg’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $542K a year in losses across Lunenburg: $415K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lunenburg flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Lunenburg. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Lunenburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lunenburg
Disasters that paid out in Lunenburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lunenburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides17 households applied for aid$148K aid approved$167K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$83K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms and Flooding$8K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$24K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$564K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$13K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs
Essex County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Lunenburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lunenburg archive →Lunenburg and its neighbors
Lunenburg is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concord | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lunenburg | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Lancaster | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Dalton | — | 916 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Gilman | — | 165 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Guildhall | — | 371 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Victory | — | 53 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Lunenburg 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 Lunenburg
Is Lunenburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lunenburg has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (7%). 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.
Is Lunenburg 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 Essex County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lunenburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lunenburg’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 Lunenburg?
By FEMA money that reached Lunenburg, Severe Storms and Flooding (2011): $564K to the Town of Lunenburg for repairs.
Is Lunenburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Lunenburg’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lunenburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lunenburg’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.