Massachusetts natural disaster risk
Ratings for all 14 counties, the federal disaster record and flood insurance across the state.
Massachusetts has had 34 major federal disaster declarations for natural events since 1953. FEMA expects about $1.5 billion a year in losses from natural hazards across the state. Inland flooding is the costliest hazard in 13 of its 14 counties, followed by hurricane in 1. None is rated Very High overall. About 2% of homes carry federal flood insurance, and the program has paid $439 million on 35,063 claims here since 1978.
Lowest risk (50,000+ people)
Largest counties
Middlesex County
1,629,857 people
Inland floodingWorcester County
861,566 people
Inland floodingEssex County
808,897 people
Inland floodingSuffolk County
796,326 people
Inland floodingNorfolk County
725,648 people
Inland floodingBristol County
578,698 people
Inland floodingPlymouth County
530,320 people
Inland floodingHampden County
465,327 people
Inland floodingBarnstable County
228,870 people
Inland floodingHampshire County
162,053 people
Inland floodingBerkshire County
128,939 people
Inland floodingFranklin County
70,685 people
Inland floodingAll 14 counties
| Name | People | Overall risk | Top hazard | Declarations | Homes insured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | 228,870 | Inland flooding | 21 | 5.4% | |
| Berkshire County | 128,939 | Inland flooding | 21 | 0.9% | |
| Bristol County | 578,698 | Inland flooding | 26 | 1.9% | |
| Dukes County | 20,495 | Inland flooding | 19 | 5.3% | |
| Essex County | 808,897 | Inland flooding | 36 | 2.8% | |
| Franklin County | 70,685 | Inland flooding | 20 | 0.7% | |
| Hampden County | 465,327 | Inland flooding | 22 | 0.4% | |
| Hampshire County | 162,053 | Inland flooding | 21 | 0.8% | |
| Middlesex County | 1,629,857 | Inland flooding | 31 | 1% | |
| Nantucket County | 14,255 | Hurricane | 17 | 7.5% | |
| Norfolk County | 725,648 | Inland flooding | 33 | 1.5% | |
| Plymouth County | 530,320 | Inland flooding | 29 | 4.3% | |
| Suffolk County | 796,326 | Inland flooding | 33 | 2.5% | |
| Worcester County | 861,566 | Inland flooding | 30 | 0.5% |
Linked names have a full page. Overall risk from the FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); declarations are federal disaster and emergency declarations for natural events since 1953 (OpenFEMA); homes insured is the share with NFIP flood policies.