215 flood insurance claims·$2.0M paid·3 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Hampshire County, 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.
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms and general flooding dominate the historical record in Hampshire County, complemented by occasional tropical storm impacts. Over a 30-year period, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 39 flood events, 30 flash flood events, and 4 tropical storm events. Recent recorded events include localized flash flooding caused by a weak front bringing thunderstorms in July 2025, and scattered flash flooding driven by slow-moving thunderstorms with heavy rain in July 2025.
Federal insurance records show historical claims concentrated in specific risk zones, indicating varying levels of exposure. Zone A properties experienced the highest claim volume with 171 claims, an average payout of $12,903, and an average recorded water depth of 14 inches. Properties in Zone X recorded 8 claims with an average payout of $17,969 and an average recorded water depth of 49 inches. Additional claims occurred in Zone X unshaded with 19 claims averaging 12 inches of water depth, Zone X shaded with 7 claims averaging 4 inches of water depth, and Zone UNKNOWN with 10 claims averaging 1 inch of water depth. Homeowners and real estate agents with properties in high-risk zones, particularly Zone A and designated Zone X areas, should pay the closest attention to these flood risks.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
13% of Hampshire County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
197 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 13 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 2011, with 49 claims and $719,015 paid, the year of Hurricane Irene, Severe Storm and Severe Storm and Snowstorm.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
31 NOAA storm reports from Hampshire County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Massachusetts flood stories →
23 federal disaster declarations since 1985, 3 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Lee | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Feb 8, 2013 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2011 |
| Severe Storm And Snowstorm | Oct 29, 2011 |
| Tropical Storm Irene | Aug 27, 2011 |
| Hurricane Irene | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Jan 11, 2011 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
73 since 1996: 30 flash floods and 39 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2025 | — |
| Flood | Jan 10, 2024 | — |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | $10,000 |
| Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2023 | — |
| Flood | Sep 9, 2023 | — |
| Flash Flood | Sep 8, 2023 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jul 14, 2025. Slow-moving thunderstorms brought heavy rain and scattered flash flooding to western interior southern New England.
Flash Flood · Jul 11, 2025. A weak front brought a few thunderstorms to Massachusetts which resulted in spotty wind damage and localized flash flooding.
Flood · Jan 10, 2024. A negatively tilted mid level trough swung through New England while at the surface a low pressure center passed directly over southern New England. This inland runner brought warm air so that all precipitation fell as rain, along with strong winds. There was a good deal of tree damage from the winds and widespread river flooding with many rivers going into major flood stage. Coastal flooding was also a problem. M…
Flood · Dec 18, 2023. A strong storm system moved up the Atlantic coast Sunday night into Monday, merging with a short wave trough exiting the northern Great Plains and taking the surface low west of southern New England. This brought strong southerly winds and coastal flooding to southern New England. This was a very impactful storm flooding roads, closing schools, knocking out power to 300,000 across MA, cancelling flights, and killi…
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Hampshire County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.