Enter any address in Plymouth County, Massachusetts to see its FEMA flood zone
Coastal flooding is the most frequent type of flood event in Plymouth County, MA, with 64 occurrences in the last 30 years. This is followed closely by general flooding (63 events) and flash flooding (22 events). Recent events include coastal flooding in January 2024, which caused widespread flooding due to strong southeast winds and rain, and flash flooding in July 2025, where submerged roads, including sections of I-93 near Braintree, led to stranded vehicles.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates a significant number of claims in Zone A (5,296 claims) and Zone V (1,351 claims), which are designated high-risk flood areas. Zone A claims averaged $13,179 with water depths of 3.5 feet, while Zone V claims averaged higher payouts of $22,363 with an average water depth of 5.3 feet. Properties in these high-risk zones, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk. Homeowners in coastal areas and those located near rivers are particularly encouraged to be aware of potential flood hazards.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
52 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Plymouth County, Massachusetts has recorded 169 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 22 flash floods and 63 river or area floods. The county has received 32 federal disaster declarations, 7 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 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 28, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 2, 2018 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Mar 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Apr 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 23, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2025
A tropical airmass overhead contributed to localized flash flooding in eastern MA in the early morning hours. Many roads were closed due to flooding, including both directions of I-93 near Braintree where cars got stuck in water.
Coastal Flood — Jan 13, 2024
A low pressure system over the southern Plains strengthened significantly as it reached the eastern Great Lakes. This placed New England on the warm side of the storm with strong SE winds and rain instead of snow. This lead to widespread river flooding and coastal flooding on both the south and east coasts of southern New England. The heaviest rain fell over eastern CT, RI, and eastern MA with ...
Coastal Flood — Mar 10, 2024
A low pressure system moving up the east coast linked up with a mid level trough bringing widespread 1-2 inches of rain overnight along with gusty winds which led to some minor coastal flooding in MA.
Coastal 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 w...
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 w...
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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth 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.