FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Massachusetts Disaster Risk

Natural disaster risk data for all 14 counties.

Avg FEMA Rating

Relatively Low

Avg Percentile

79th

Counties with Data

of 14 total

County risk atlas

Massachusetts hazard exposure by county

A compact 2.5D surface of FEMA National Risk Index percentiles. Toggle composite, flood, wildfire, hurricane, tornado, and earthquake risk to see which counties carry the highest relative exposure without loading the full national explorer dataset.

Counties

14/14

Avg composite

79th

Risk layers

Highest Risk Counties

Middlesex County

Relatively High

97th percentile

Essex County

Relatively High

96th percentile

Worcester County

Relatively Moderate

94th percentile

Suffolk County

Relatively Moderate

94th percentile

Hampden County

Relatively Moderate

93th percentile

Lowest Risk Counties

Dukes County

Very Low

17th percentile

Nantucket County

Very Low

39th percentile

Franklin County

Relatively Low

61th percentile

Hampshire County

Relatively Low

70th percentile

Berkshire County

Relatively Moderate

84th percentile

All Massachusetts Counties

County	Percentile	FEMA Rating	Flood	Wildfire	Tornado	Earthquake
Middlesex County	97th	Relatively High	98.5	72.8	90.1	96.1
Essex County	96th	Relatively High	97.8	59.2	92.4	94.9
Worcester County	94th	Relatively Moderate	95.3	62.6	82.2	89.3
Suffolk County	94th	Relatively Moderate	94.7	9.0	75.3	95.0
Hampden County	93th	Relatively Moderate	95.9	39.3	82.7	90.6
Norfolk County	92th	Relatively Moderate	95.5	49.8	69.0	91.5
Plymouth County	90th	Relatively Moderate	94.4	53.8	48.2	87.7
Bristol County	90th	Relatively Moderate	93.6	38.2	52.1	88.6
Barnstable County	89th	Relatively Moderate	94.6	53.2	45.5	78.1
Berkshire County	84th	Relatively Moderate	90.6	25.2	48.8	72.1
Hampshire County	70th	Relatively Low	79.4	35.8	46.9	70.1
Franklin County	61th	Relatively Low	73.5	37.0	31.6	58.7
Nantucket County	39th	Very Low	70.0	13.0	4.1	22.4
Dukes County	17th	Very Low	55.4	27.9	10.7	33.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Which county in Massachusetts has the highest natural disaster risk?

Middlesex County has the highest natural disaster risk in Massachusetts, rated Relatively High (97th percentile nationally), based on FEMA National Risk Index data.

Which county in Massachusetts is the safest from natural disasters?

Dukes County has the lowest natural disaster risk in Massachusetts, rated Very Low (17th percentile nationally), based on FEMA NRI data.

What natural disasters are most common in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts counties face varying levels of risk from floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The FEMA National Risk Index scores each county across 18 hazard types. See individual county pages for detailed hazard breakdowns.

How is natural disaster risk measured by county?

The FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) measures natural disaster risk using expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Scores are normalized nationally, with ratings from Very Low to Very High across 18 natural hazard types.

Prepare your household for natural disasters

FEMA's Ready.gov provides county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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