Enter any address in Dukes County, Massachusetts to see its FEMA flood zone
Coastal flooding is the dominant flood character for Dukes County. Between 2014 and 2024, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 21 coastal flood events, alongside 9 general flood events and 4 tropical storms. Recent events include coastal flooding reported in April 2024 during a Nor'easter, and in March 2023 with strong coastal winds. January 2022 also saw moderate coastal flooding associated with a winter storm.
NFIP claims data indicates that properties in Zone A and Zone V have experienced the most frequent flooding, with Zone A having 78 claims and Zone V having 8. While Zone X_UNSHADED had fewer claims, the average payout was significantly higher, suggesting potential for substantial damage. Homeowners with properties in coastal areas, or those located in Zone A or Zone V, should pay the most attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
23 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Dukes County, Massachusetts has recorded 36 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Lee | Hurricane | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 26, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 8, 2013 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Tropical Storm Irene | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2011 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Hurricane Earl | Hurricane | Sep 1, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Inland And Coastal Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 15, 2007 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flood | Apr 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Mar 4, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 29, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Dec 23, 2022 | 5.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 17, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 22, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 23, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Apr 3, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 6, 2019 | 0.70K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 30, 2018 | 0.00K |
Coastal Flood — Apr 4, 2024
A strong Nor'easter passed offshore of southern New England bringing widespread heavy rainfall, high elevation snow and sleet, as well as strong winds to the region. There was minor flooding on some rivers as well as minor to moderate coastal flooding along the east coast of MA. This was a late season snow storm with very elevation dependent snowfall totals from 0 to over 8 inches. Wind damage ...
Coastal Flood — Mar 4, 2023
Low pressure just south of the New England coast intensified early on March 4 and moved off the coast during the day. Heavy snow occurred in the higher terrain of northern and western MA, while mixed precipitation occurred elsewhere. Initial snow began before midnight on March 3. Then another round occurred with the comma head during the late morning/afternoon on March 4. Winds gusted to 45 ...
Coastal Flood — Jan 29, 2022
Explosive cyclogenesis of a low pressure center off the Mid Atlantic coast brought a strong winter storm with blizzard conditions to all of southern New England Saturday and Saturday night. The storm tracked from east of the Carolinas to the 70w/40n benchmark bringing extreme snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour and winds gusting to hurricane force along the coast and 50 to 60 mph inland. T...
Coastal Flood — Dec 23, 2022
Low pressure deepened rapidly as it tracked through the eastern Great Lakes.|The storm produced damaging southeast to south winds across much of southern New England and minor to moderate coastal flooding the east and south coasts. There were two rounds of strong wind gusts -- one in the morning and one in the late afternoon and evening. Two to 3.5 inches of rain fell across much of RI and in...
Coastal Flood — Jan 17, 2022
A strong low pressure system moved up the eastern seaboard Sunday night into Monday bringing heavy snow to western and central Massachusetts and snow changing to rain elsewhere. Strong winds caused some damage and there were some coastal flooding issues as well. Snow overspread the region between 10pm and 2 am before quickly changing to rain across most of CT, RI, and eastern MA. Strong to dama...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Dukes County, Massachusetts:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Dukes County, Massachusetts that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.