35,348 flood insurance claims·$439.9M paid·56,803 policies in force
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Massachusetts. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Massachusetts faces a mixed flood risk profile dominated by frequent inland riverine flooding and significant coastal exposure, with NOAA recording 1,013 floods, 605 flash floods, 372 coastal floods, 105 tropical storms, and 56 storm surge or tide events over the last 30 years resulting in three deaths.
This multi-faceted hazard mix impacts both coastal and interior areas, with recent federal disaster declarations highlighting vulnerabilities to tropical weather, specifically noting Hurricane Lee on September 15, 2023. These events underscore the state's susceptibility to severe coastal impacts alongside widespread inland flooding from heavy precipitation and tropical systems.
Analysis of National Flood Insurance Program claims indicates that residents in FEMA Zone A face the highest risk and need insurance most urgently, accounting for 20,404 claims and $259 million paid out. Significant payouts also occur in coastal Zone V, where 3,491 claims totaled $67 million with the highest average payout of $24,039. Meanwhile, surprise claims happen in moderate-to-low risk areas, demonstrated by 3,394 claims in unshaded Zone X totaling $41 million, 2,510 claims in Zone X totaling $31 million, 1,514 claims in shaded Zone X totaling $20 million, and 4,051 claims in unknown zones totaling $23 million, proving that properties outside high-risk zones still experience costly flooding.
Summary generated from FEMA disaster declarations, NOAA storm events, and NFIP claim data. Updated quarterly.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims, Policies, and Disaster Declarations data. NFIP policies in force and average premium (premium plus federal policy fee) as of August 31, 2026, from OpenFEMA.
Massachusetts has received 414 federal disaster declarations, including 60 flood and coastal storm declarations and 41 hurricane declarations.
NFIP claims by county, 1978 to date. Source: OpenFEMA. Counties ranked by recorded flood events →
Properties in Massachusetts FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Massachusetts had 56,803 NFIP policies in force on August 31, 2026, and the average NFIP premium was $1,245 a year (premium plus the federal policy fee; the reserve fund assessment and HFIAA surcharge come on top, and nationally they make actual bills about a quarter higher). Under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 each building is priced on its own flood risk, so a state average says little about what any one home will pay.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from properties outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Massachusetts residents can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP or private insurers.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.
See the most flood-prone counties in Massachusetts →
Select a county to view local flood zone data and disaster history:
Select a city to check flood zone information: