State profile · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Natural disaster risk in Massachusetts
Massachusetts faces a low level of natural disaster risk, with 4 FEMA disaster declarations on record. The dominant threat is hurricane, and severe weather has caused $84.8M in combined property and crop damage. NOAA storm event data shows 7,116 recorded weather events resulting in 17 fatalities, figures the state uses to prioritize disaster-preparedness planning.
- 4
- FEMA declarations
- 7,116
- NOAA storm events
- 17
- Storm fatalities
- $84.8M
- Property + crop damage
How disaster-prone is Massachusetts?
Massachusetts (MA) sits at a low level of federally recognized natural-disaster risk, with 4 FEMA disaster declarations on record, including 2 Major Disaster declarations (DR) that triggered full federal individual and public assistance. The dominant declaration type is Hurricane, followed by Flood (1), Snowstorm (1). Declaration counts at the state level reflect the cumulative federal footprint: large multi-county events count once per state, but repeat hazard patterns across decades are visible in the breakdown below.
NOAA's Storm Events Database adds the near-term severe-weather lens. Between 2015 and 2025, Massachusetts recorded 7,116 individual storm events, causing 17 fatalities and 62 injuries, with combined property and crop damage estimated at $84.8M. The most frequent event types in the state are Thunderstorm Wind (2,259 events), Strong Wind (1,063 events), High Wind (740 events). Across the state's 14 analyzed counties, FEMA's own National Risk Index flags 2 as high-risk, with an average county Risk Index score (FEMA's own formula, distinct from our Risk Score tool below) of 78.8/100.
NFIP claims data is limited or absent for this state in the current extract, which usually indicates low flood-policy penetration rather than zero flood risk. The highest-Expected-Annual-Loss hazard across the state is Hurricane, estimated at $0.2B annually. Drill into individual counties for localized risk, read FEMA's hazard-specific briefings, and review insurance and flood-zone designations, state-level averages can mask sharp county-to-county differences in exposure and resilience.
Disaster Types in Massachusetts
Storm Events by Type
NOAA storm event data for Massachusetts (2015-2025).
| Event Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 2,259 | 2 | 7 | $13.4M |
| Strong Wind | 1,063 | 4 | 8 | $3.3M |
| High Wind | 740 | 3 | 10 | $10.8M |
| Flood | 563 | 0 | 0 | $4.0M |
| Winter Weather | 405 | 1 | 14 | $1.4M |
| Heavy Snow | 393 | 4 | 1 | $720.5K |
| Hail | 348 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Flash Flood | 332 | 0 | 0 | $31.6M |
| Winter Storm | 240 | 0 | 0 | $526.0K |
| Drought | 171 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Lightning | 140 | 0 | 8 | $2.0M |
| Coastal Flood | 128 | 0 | 1 | $3.7M |
| Tropical Storm | 68 | 0 | 3 | $591.8K |
| Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | 56 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Cold/Wind Chill | 48 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Tornado | 44 | 0 | 2 | $12.0M |
| Blizzard | 37 | 1 | 0 | $434.5K |
| Heat | 34 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Excessive Heat | 12 | 0 | 6 | $0 |
| Heavy Rain | 9 | 0 | 0 | $25.0K |
Storm Events by Year
| Year | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 670 | 0 | 6 | $1.0M |
| 2024 | 314 | 0 | 3 | $275.8K |
| 2023 | 475 | 2 | 5 | $3.2M |
| 2022 | 439 | 1 | 0 | $897.0K |
| 2021 | 585 | 1 | 4 | $9.2M |
| 2020 | 850 | 1 | 14 | $32.2M |
| 2019 | 860 | 0 | 3 | $10.6M |
| 2018 | 672 | 2 | 6 | $9.6M |
| 2017 | 757 | 3 | 14 | $5.2M |
| 2016 | 889 | 4 | 4 | $7.0M |
| 2015 | 605 | 3 | 3 | $5.5M |
FEMA Disaster Declarations
4 unique disaster declarations in Massachusetts.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4780 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2024-05-15 |
| 3599 | HURRICANE LEE | EM | Hurricane | 2023-09-15 |
| 4651 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM | DR | Snowstorm | 2022-04-18 |
| 3566 | TROPICAL STORM HENRI | EM | Hurricane | 2021-08-22 |
FEMA National Risk Index
Composite natural hazard risk scores for Massachusetts counties based on FEMA's National Risk Index.
Avg County Risk Score
78.8/100
High Risk Counties
2
of 14 counties
Top Hazard by EAL
Hurricane
$0.2B annual loss est.
Top 5 Hazards by Expected Annual Loss
#1
Hurricane
$192.8M EAL
#2
Earthquake
$83.2M EAL
#3
Coastal Flooding
$61.0M EAL
#4
Cold Wave
$49.1M EAL
#5
Tornado
$40.3M EAL
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) EAL = Expected Annual Loss. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
Counties in Massachusetts
14 counties with FEMA disaster data.
| County | Disasters | Major | Top Hazard | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol(in (P)MSA 1120,1200,2480,5400,6060) | 3 | 2 | Flood | 2024 |
| Barnstable | 3 | 1 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Worcester (in (P)MSA 1120,2600,9240) | 2 | 1 | Flood | 2024 |
| Plymouth(in (P)MSA 1120,1200,5400) | 2 | 1 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Norfolk(in PMSA 1120,1200,6060) | 2 | 1 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Suffolk | 2 | 1 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Franklin | 1 | 0 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Hampden | 1 | 0 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Essex(in PMSA 1120,4160,7090) | 1 | 0 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Dukes | 1 | 0 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Middlesex(in (P)MSA 1120,2600,4560) | 1 | 0 | Hurricane | 2023 |
| Nantucket | 1 | 0 | Hurricane | 2023 |
Disaster Preparedness Guides
Learn more about natural disaster risk, preparedness, and data interpretation.
Preparing for Natural Disasters
Essential steps to prepare your household for the most common natural hazards.
Hazard Risk by Region
How natural disaster risk varies across different US regions.
Climate Change & Disasters
How climate trends are changing the frequency and severity of natural disasters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What natural disasters affect Massachusetts?
How many FEMA disaster declarations has Massachusetts had?
What severe weather events are most common in Massachusetts?
What is the disaster risk level for Massachusetts?
Which counties in Massachusetts have the most disaster declarations?
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations, NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025) FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations, NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025) For informational purposes only
What this means for Massachusetts
Massachusetts carries a low federal disaster profile - 4 FEMA declarations and 7,116 recorded storm events, led by hurricane.
- Risk is uneven within the state - Bristol(in (P)MSA 1120,1200,2480,5400,6060) and Barnstable carry the most declarations. Check the county where you live. Browse counties
- See how Massachusetts ranks against other states for disaster frequency and damage. State rankings
- Learn what FEMA declarations, NRI risk scores, and damage figures do and don't tell you. Disaster-data guide
Historical declaration counts and damage totals describe past federal response, not a forecast. For current threats, follow the National Weather Service and local officials; in an emergency call 911.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with FEMA → · Verify with FEMA NRI → · Verify with NOAA →
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on FEMA federal disaster data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.