Plymouth County Disaster Risk
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
FEMA Risk Rating
Relatively Moderate
National Percentile
90th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#7
of 14 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
94th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Relatively High
Higher than 94% of US counties
Wildfire
Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 54% of US counties
Tornado
Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 48% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Moderate
Higher than 88% of US counties
Hurricane
Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk
Moderate
Higher than 91% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Plymouth faces moderately elevated disaster risk
Plymouth County scores 90.36 on composite risk, placing it in the relatively moderate category—above the national average. This score reflects balanced exposure across multiple hazard types, with particularly acute flood vulnerability.
Mid-tier risk among Massachusetts counties
Plymouth ranks in the middle of Massachusetts risk distribution, with a composite score of 90.36 compared to the state average of 78.84. The county's 15% elevation above the state baseline reflects consistent exposure across most natural hazard categories.
Similar risk profile to Norfolk and Suffolk
Plymouth's 90.36 score falls between Norfolk (92.02) and Nantucket (38.68), placing it in Massachusetts's moderate-risk cluster. Flood risk (94.40) ties closely with other southeastern Massachusetts counties, while wildfire risk (53.78) remains moderate.
Floods pose your greatest natural hazard
Flood risk reaches 94.40 in Plymouth—among the state's highest—driven by coastal and riverine exposure. Hurricane risk (90.66) and earthquake risk (87.66) present secondary concerns, while tornado (48.22) and wildfire (53.78) risks remain more limited.
Flood insurance is your essential first step
Flood damage is not covered by standard homeowners policies, making separate flood insurance non-negotiable for Plymouth residents. Adding earthquake coverage to your policy protects against another significant threat, with both available through reasonable premium rates in lower-risk flood zones.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Plymouth County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Plymouth County
Risk Verdict
Plymouth County registers a moderately elevated natural disaster risk, ranking at the 90th percentile across all U.S. counties. High composite risk signals that multiple hazard types are elevated simultaneously; planning for more than one scenario is important in Plymouth County.
Hazard Breakdown
Flood risk is Plymouth County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 94th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Hurricane ranks second at the 91th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (88th percentile), wildfire (54th percentile), tornado (48th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Plymouth County's dominant hazard is flooding, ranked at the 94th percentile nationally. In addition to flood insurance, residents should identify their nearest evacuation shelter and store key documents in waterproof containers. Alongside flooding, hurricane exposure at the 91th percentile means households benefit from a multi-hazard preparedness plan rather than focusing on flood alone. Plymouth County's county emergency management office publishes hazard-specific guidance tailored to local conditions; bookmarking that resource and the county's alert system is a practical first step for any household.
Regional Context
Plymouth County falls 11.5 points above Massachusetts's typical county risk level, which means the hazard environment here is notably more demanding than the state baseline.
Is your household prepared for Plymouth County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Plymouth County, MA?
What types of natural hazards affect Plymouth County?
How does Plymouth County risk compare to the Massachusetts average?
Is Plymouth County at risk for flooding?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Why is Plymouth County higher risk than average?
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.