Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Suffolk County, MA

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
25025
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: No county-level plan row in FEMA data.

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($59,518,167 a year), Hurricane ($12,923,252) and Earthquake ($11,650,421).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

No county-level plan row in FEMA data

What changed since your last plan

Not available. No county-level plan row in FEMA data, so there is no approval date to count from.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiry
Boston cityCityApproved, expires 2026-12-05City of Boston 2021 Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update (FEMA plan 107823)2021-12-062026-12-0566
Chelsea cityCityApproved, expires 2027-07-11Chelsea, MA 2022 Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108264)2022-07-122027-07-11284
Revere cityCityApproved, expires 2027-02-16The City of Revere, Massachusetts Hazard Mitigation Plan - 2021 Update (FEMA plan 107869)2022-02-172027-02-16139
Winthrop Town cityCityApproved, expires 2031-08-13Town of Winthrop Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025 Update (FEMA plan 111531)2026-08-142031-08-131,778
Name not given in FEMA data (ID NM01_12383)College/UniversityExpired on 2021-05-12University of Massachusetts Multi-Campus Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 12383)2016-05-122021-05-12-1,967

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively HighRelatively High$59,469,894$313$47,960$59,518,16772
2HurricaneRelatively HighRelatively High$12,415,981$5,559$501,711$12,923,2524
3EarthquakeRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$8,238,651n/a$3,411,770$11,650,421Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
4Heat WaveRelatively HighRelatively High$30$82$9,433,664$9,433,77621
5Cold WaveRelatively HighRelatively High$677$64$8,677,694$8,678,4358
6Coastal FloodingRelatively HighRelatively High$5,228,356n/a$1,059,907$6,288,26650
7TornadoRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$2,217,516$5$378,485$2,596,0061
8LightningVery HighRelatively High$409,876n/a$1,908,214$2,318,09019
9HailRelatively ModerateRelatively Low$598,469$2$16,652$615,12320
10Strong WindRelatively ModerateRelatively Low$224,347under $1$255,897$480,245277Includes 76 High Wind and 100 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
11Ice StormRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$129,801n/a$199,097$328,8980No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
12Winter WeatherRelatively LowRelatively Low$26,709under $1$16,678$43,38799
13WildfireVery LowVery Low$2,076under $1$290$2,3660No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
14LandslideVery LowVery Low$367n/a$39$4060No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
15DroughtNo RatingNo Expected Annual Lossesn/a$0n/a$011
TsunamiInsufficient DataInsufficient Datan/an/an/an/a0No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local wildfire, landslide and tsunami records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Coastal Flooding and Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 104.05 (Relatively Moderate, 86.3); tract 103 (Relatively Moderate, 85.1); tract 810.01 (Relatively Moderate, 83.5)
Hurricanetract 104.05 (Relatively High, 90.2); tract 701.04 (Relatively Moderate, 88.5); tract 103 (Relatively Moderate, 85.2)
Landslidetract 1201.05 (Very Low, 74.5); tract 1606.01 (Very Low, 73.2); tract 1701.01 (Very Low, 72.3)
Tornadotract 104.05 (Relatively Moderate, 57.4); tract 701.04 (Relatively Low, 52.5); tract 103 (Relatively Low, 44.9)
Tsunamino tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Wildfiretract 1703.02 (Very Low, 61.7); tract 1106.01 (Very Low, 54.9); tract 106 (Very Low, 52.9)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 104.05 is Census Tract 104.05). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tidenone in data (flood depth: FIRM)50 records, 2002 to 2024 (49 zone-level)Coastal Flood, 2012-10-29, $3,000,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars); NWS zone MAZ015Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Revere city (1 record). Zone-level records (49) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill8 records, 1999 to 2018 (8 zone-level)1 day to 2 days (median 1 day); 6 with a recorded value2 consecutive days, 2007-02-03 to 2007-02-04, 1 direct death, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Cold/Wind Chill records from May to September (a frost night, not a cold wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage0
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)11 records, 1999 to 2017 (11 zone-level)1 day to 183 days (median 17.5 days); 4 with a recorded value183 days (about 6.0 months), 2016-07-26 to 2017-01-24, a run of 7 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)24 records, 1966 to 20200.75 in to 2 in (median 0.75 in); 24 with a recorded value2 in hail, 2015-08-04Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Revere city (3 records), Boston city (2 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)21 records, 1996 to 2018 (21 zone-level)1 day to 2 days (median 1 day); 10 with a recorded value2 consecutive days, 2001-05-03 to 2001-05-04, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Heat records from November to March (unseasonable warmth, not a heat wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson4 records, 2011 to 2021 (4 zone-level)Strongest recorded: Tropical Storm record, 2011-08-28, $3,450,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars); NWS zone MAZ015Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)0
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)72 records, 1996 to 2024 (1 zone-level)Flood, 2001-03-05, $15,000,000 property; crops not reported (2001 dollars); NWS zone MAZ015Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Boston city (14 records), Revere city (14 records), Chelsea city (8 records). Zone-level records (1) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)19 records, 1997 to 2023Lightning, 2010-08-05, $0 property; $0 crops (2010 dollars), 1 direct deathLightning, 2008-06-27, $5,000,000 property; $0 crops (2008 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Boston city (5 records), Revere city (2 records).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)176 records, 1996 to 2025 (176 zone-level)27 kt (31 mph) to 68 kt (78 mph) (median 45 kt (52 mph)); 128 with a recorded value68 kt (78 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2006-01-18; NWS zone MAZ015High Wind, 2012-10-29, $3,000,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2012 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)130 records, 1956 to 202545 kt (52 mph) to 73 kt (84 mph) (median 50 kt (58 mph)); 115 with a recorded value73 kt (84 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1956-06-13Thunderstorm Wind, 2010-06-06, $100,000 property; $0 crops (2010 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Boston city (31 records), Revere city (10 records), Chelsea city (3 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)1 record, 2014F/EF2; 1 with a recorded valueEF2 tornado, 2014-07-28, 1.93 mi within this county, 660 yd wide, $4,000,000 property; $0 crops (2014 dollars), 2 direct injuriesEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Chelsea city (1 record), Revere city (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Tsunaminone (count and damage only)0
Wildfireacres burned (local data)0
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)99 records, 1996 to 2026 (99 zone-level)Heavy Snow, 1996-01-07, $7,000,000 property; crops not reported (1996 dollars); NWS zone MAZ015Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow, lightning and tsunami.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 38 declarations covering 28 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

No county-level plan row in FEMA data, so there is no approval date to count from.

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2023-09-152023-09-15EM-3599-MAEmergencyHurricane LeeHurricane$173,126.76within last 5 years
2022-04-182022-01-28DR-4651-MAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormWinter Weather$9,862,630.59within last 5 years
2020-03-272020-01-20DR-4496-MAMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$491,517,173.77
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3438-MAEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4496
2018-07-192018-03-13DR-4379-MAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormWinter Weather$12,192,682.41
2015-04-132015-01-26DR-4214-MAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingInland Flooding; Winter Weather$25,562,137.63
2013-04-192013-02-08DR-4110-MAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingInland Flooding; Winter Weather$3,861,484.42
2013-04-172013-04-15EM-3362-MAEmergencyExplosionsNon-natural, not counted$3,591,762.10
2012-12-192012-10-27DR-4097-MAMajor disasterHurricane SandyHurricane$3,749,961.97
2012-10-282012-10-27EM-3350-MAEmergencyHurricane SandyHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4097
2011-08-262011-08-26EM-3330-MAEmergencyHurricane IreneHurricane$916,866.43
2011-03-072011-01-11DR-1959-MAMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormWinter Weather$9,430,940.63
2010-09-022010-09-01EM-3315-MAEmergencyHurricane EarlHurricane$63,420.86
2010-05-032010-05-01EM-3312-MAEmergencyWater Main BreakNon-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2010-03-292010-03-12DR-1895-MAMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding$4,466,860.58
2008-12-132008-12-11EM-3296-MAEmergencySevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
2006-05-252006-05-12DR-1642-MAMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding$654,853.84FEMA's declaration record does not list Public Assistance, but FEMA's PA project summaries show obligations for this county
2005-11-102005-10-07DR-1614-MAMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Flooding: designated for Hazard Mitigation only (no Public or Individual Assistance for this county); not counted$809,896.39FEMA's declaration record does not list Public Assistance, but FEMA's PA project summaries show obligations for this county
2005-09-132005-08-29EM-3252-MAEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2005-02-172005-01-22EM-3201-MAEmergencyRecord and/or Near Record SnowWinter Weather$15,673,117.74
2004-04-212004-04-01DR-1512-MAMajor disasterFloodingInland FloodingPA not declared for this county
2004-01-152003-12-06EM-3191-MAEmergencySnowWinter Weather$3,267,208.62
2003-03-112003-02-17EM-3175-MAEmergencySnowWinter Weather$9,724,128.12
2001-04-102001-03-05DR-1364-MAMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland FloodingPA not declared for this county
1998-06-231998-06-13DR-1224-MAMajor disasterHeavy Rains and FloodingInland FloodingPA not declared for this county
1996-10-251996-10-20DR-1142-MAMajor disasterExtreme Weather Conditons and FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1996-10-231996-10-20EM-3119-MAEmergencyExtreme Weather Conditions and FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-1142
1996-01-241996-01-07DR-1090-MAMajor disasterBlizzard of 96Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1993-03-161993-03-13EM-3103-MAEmergencyBlizzards, High Winds & Record SnowfallWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1992-12-211992-12-11DR-975-MAMajor disasterWinter Coastal StormCoastal Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1991-11-041991-10-30DR-920-MAMajor disasterCoastal StormCoastal Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1991-08-261991-08-19DR-914-MAMajor disasterHurricane BobHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
1985-10-281985-09-27DR-751-MAMajor disasterHurricane GloriaHurricaneno Public Assistance recorded
1978-02-101978-02-06DR-546-MAMajor disasterCoastal Storms, Flood, Ice & SnowCoastal Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1978-02-071978-02-07EM-3059-MAEmergencyBlizzard & SnowstormsWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1973-10-161973-10-16DR-405-MAMajor disasterFire (City of Chelsea)Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
1972-09-281972-09-28DR-357-MAMajor disasterToxic Algae in Coastal WatersFishing Losses: economic loss, not a physical hazard event; non-natural, not countedPA not declared for this county
1972-03-061972-03-06DR-325-MAMajor disasterSevere Storms & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1955-08-201955-08-20DR-43-MAMajor disasterHurricane & FloodsHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding
1954-09-021954-09-02DR-22-MAMajor disasterHurricanesHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding
1953-06-111953-06-11DR-7-MAMajor disasterTornadoTornado

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

1 Fire Management declaration (1995-09-12 to 1995-09-12) FEMA filed as Statewide with no county; each names one local fire. Listed on the state page.

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 23 rows, $18,874,379.97

Sources: 2, 3

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-4372-MA2018-06-25Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMassachusetts Water Resources Authority$13,042.25
DR-4372-MA2018-06-25Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMassachusetts Environmental Police$14,917.12
DR-4372-MA2018-06-25Severe Winter Storm and FloodingConservation and Recreation, Department of$406,195.44
DR-4051-MA2012-01-06Severe Storm and SnowstormMassachusetts Water Resources Authority$169,101.82
DR-4051-MA2012-01-06Severe Storm and SnowstormMassachusetts Department of Transportation$883,164.59
DR-4051-MA2012-01-06Severe Storm and SnowstormMassachusetts Bay Transportation Authority$132,924.88
DR-4051-MA2012-01-06Severe Storm and SnowstormEnvironmental Protection, Department of$4,081.96
DR-4051-MA2012-01-06Severe Storm and SnowstormConservation and Recreation, Department of$207,997.85
DR-1994-MA2011-06-15Severe Storms and TornadoesDepartment of Developmental Services$10,552.72
DR-1813-MA2009-01-05Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMassachusetts Water Resources Authority$27,831.63
DR-1813-MA2009-01-05Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMassachusetts Department of Transportation$1,741,408.88
DR-1813-MA2009-01-05Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMA Department of Youth Services$993.75
DR-1813-MA2009-01-05Severe Winter Storm and FloodingEnvironmental Protection, Department of$5,810.65
DR-1813-MA2009-01-05Severe Winter Storm and FloodingDepartment of Developmental Services$10,627.06
DR-1813-MA2009-01-05Severe Winter Storm and FloodingConservation and Recreation, Department of$7,041,783.46
DR-1701-MA2007-05-16Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingMassachusetts Environmental Police$3,505.67
DR-1701-MA2007-05-16Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingMassachusetts Department of Transportation$68,292.72
DR-1701-MA2007-05-16Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingConservation and Recreation, Department of$779,614.22
EM-3264-MA2005-10-19Severe Storms and FloodingMassachusetts Department of Transportation$6,723.51
EM-3165-MA2001-03-28SnowMassachusetts Department of Transportation$7,012,518.15
EM-3165-MA2001-03-28SnowMassachusetts Bay Transportation Authority$282,540.29
EM-3153-MA1999-12-06Warehouse Fire.Office of the Chief Medical Examiner$25,579.81
EM-3153-MA1999-12-06Warehouse Fire.Massachusetts Department of Transportation$25,171.54

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Coastal Flooding50731996 to 2026-06-30
Cold Wave8001996 to 2026-06-30
Drought11001996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail24001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave21001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane4061996 to 2026-06-30
Ice Storm0001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Inland Flooding721691996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning19101996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind3062701955 to 2026-06-30Includes 76 High Wind and 100 Strong Wind records.
Tornado1001950 to 2026-06-30
Tsunami0001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire0001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Winter Weather996121996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationWhy listed
2015-08-04Hail2 in$0 property; $0 crops (2015 dollars)0, 0FOREST HILLSB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2014-07-28TornadoEF2, 1.93 mi within this county, 660 yd wide$4,000,000 property; $0 crops (2014 dollars)0, 2CHELSEA to REVEREB1-c worst recorded: Tornado
2012-10-29Coastal Flood$3,000,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2012 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MAZ015 (SUFFOLK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tide
2011-08-28Tropical Storm$3,450,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2011 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MAZ015 (SUFFOLK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical Depression
2010-08-05Lightning$0 property; $0 crops (2010 dollars)1, 0SOUTH BOSTONdeaths or injuries recorded
2007-02-03Extreme Cold/Wind Chill$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2007 dollars)1, 0NWS zone MAZ015 (SUFFOLK), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2006-01-18High Wind68 kt (78 mph) measured gust$100,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2006 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MAZ015 (SUFFOLK / ALSO PART OF NORFOLK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2001-05-03Excessive Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MAZ015 (SUFFOLK / ALSO PART OF NORFOLK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2001-03-05Flood$15,000,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2001 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MAZ015 (SUFFOLK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
1999-07-05Heatdamage not reported2, 0NWS zone MAZ015 (SUFFOLK / ALSO PART OF NORFOLK), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
1996-01-07Heavy Snow$7,000,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 1996 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MAZ015 (SUFFOLK), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleet
1956-06-13Thunderstorm Wind73 kt (84 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (615 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Coastal Flooding7.4events per year at a location (modeled)about 7.4 per year at a given location in the countyHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from NRI: the rate at a location is 1 or more a year, so the county rate is at least that.
Cold Wave1.19event-days per yearabout 1.19 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 6 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (20%)11.62005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought6.68event-days per yearabout 6.68 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 4 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (13.3%)1962000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.00173annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.173%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail1.64events per yearabout 1.64 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)68.4 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave5.25event-days per yearabout 5.25 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 9 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (30%)44.92005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.184events per yearabout 1 in 5 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)481851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm1.01event-days per yearabout 1.01 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)391946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywideNo Storm Events ice storm record, 1996 to 2025
Inland Flooding1.68event-days per yearabout 1.68 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 20 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (66.7%)471996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.0178events per year (modeled)about 1 in 56 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning20days per year with a strikeabout 20 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind0.704events per yearabout 0.7 per yearLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)161986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.0184events per yearabout 1 in 54 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Tsunamiannual probability at the most exposed location (used in place of a county value)Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Wildfire0.0000227annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.00227%Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Winter Weather12.2event-days per yearabout 12.2 days per yearHighly likelyStorm Events event-days in 28 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (93.3%)1202005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 20256300.2
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20251300.0333
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 202599303.3
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20251300.0333
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20250300
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Coastal Flooding97 of 23469.587.099.6Very High 3, Relatively High 8, Relatively Moderate 31, Relatively Low 30, Very Low 25, No Rating 137
Cold Wave234 of 23415.542.973.0Relatively Moderate 90, Relatively Low 128, Very Low 16
Drought0 of 234No Rating 234
Earthquake234 of 2341.253.986.3Relatively Moderate 12, Relatively Low 168, Very Low 54
Hail234 of 2341.030.972.0Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 49, Very Low 184
Heat Wave234 of 2341.352.585.8Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 102, Relatively Low 110, Very Low 21
Hurricane234 of 23429.267.390.2Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 18, Relatively Low 201, Very Low 14
Ice Storm234 of 2340.118.762.7Relatively Low 24, Very Low 210
Inland Flooding234 of 2340.210.081.6Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 15, Relatively Low 80, Very Low 137
Landslide230 of 2348.828.774.5Very Low 230, No Rating 4
Lightning234 of 2340.246.687.8Relatively High 3, Relatively Moderate 96, Relatively Low 112, Very Low 23
Strong Wind234 of 2340.313.641.0Relatively Low 19, Very Low 215
Tornado234 of 2340.422.357.4Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 32, Very Low 201
Tsunami0 of 234Insufficient Data 234
Wildfire58 of 23418.524.261.7Very Low 58, No Rating 176
Winter Weather234 of 23410.717.935.8Relatively Low 104, Very Low 130

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are.

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its planNotes
Boston cityCityApproved, expires 2026-12-05FMA RL 0, SRL 1; any 26$45,961,014.7452 total; 3 since its planIncludes $18,681,437.54 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4496-MA, EM-3362-MA).
Chelsea cityCityApproved, expires 2027-07-11FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 2$1,661,694.7912 total; 1 since its planIncludes $1,021,810.19 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4496-MA, EM-3362-MA).
Revere cityCityApproved, expires 2027-02-16FMA RL 0, SRL 38; any 289$3,826,049.7331 total; 5 since its planIncludes $2,430,637.03 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4496-MA).
Winthrop Town cityCityApproved, expires 2031-08-13FMA RL 0, SRL 12; any 154no Public Assistance recorded0 total; not yet covered

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

No county-level plan row in FEMA data, so there is no approval date to count from.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since plancounty-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Coastal Flooding$12,374,361,444n/a59,451$5,228,356n/a$1,059,9070.0423%
Cold Wave$133,076,607,263$670,845796,207$677$64$8,677,694under 0.0001%
Droughtn/a$0n/an/a$0n/aagriculture exposure is 0 in NRI
Earthquake$243,464,287,315n/a797,936$8,238,651n/a$3,411,7700.00338%
Hail$133,088,168,367$670,845796,326$598,469$2$16,6520.00045%
Heat Wave$133,079,559,396$670,845796,237$30$82$9,433,664under 0.0001%
Hurricane$133,027,789,050$670,845795,879$12,415,981$5,559$501,7110.00933%
Ice Storm$131,146,908,792n/a786,428$129,801n/a$199,097under 0.0001%
Inland Flooding$132,925,403,810$49,37142,435$59,469,894$313$47,960n/a (see note)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$2,456,588,289n/a16,844$367n/a$39under 0.0001%
Lightning$133,088,168,367n/a796,326$409,876n/a$1,908,2140.000308%
Strong Wind$133,088,168,367$670,845796,326$224,347under $1$255,8970.000169%
Tornado$133,088,168,367$670,845796,326$2,217,516$5$378,4850.00167%
Tsunamin/an/an/an/an/an/aNRI publishes no building exposure for this county
Wildfire$1,202,648,115$108,9448,543$2,076under $1$2900.000173%
Winter Weather$133,081,860,865$670,845796,260$26,709under $1$16,678under 0.0001%

Totals since the plan: not available. No county-level plan row in FEMA data, so there is no approval date to count from.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population796,326
Building value (total, not at risk)$133,088,168,367
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$670,845
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Moderate
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$88,968,776
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$25,908,058
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively High
Community resilience ratingVery High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)52
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition466Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition45

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county total and NFIP communities

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total052466454724143
of which: Boston city012612609
of which: Chelsea city0020201
of which: Revere city03828432289479
of which: Winthrop town01215311154054
of which: Unknown (community ID Unknown in FEMA data)0111100

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Boston city250286012612609
Chelsea city2502870020201
Revere city25028803828432289479
Winthrop Town city25028901215311154054

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential02427519279396
2 to 4 unit residential02214620148134
other residential032532508
non-residential032032005
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 466 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Suffolk County, MA: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 25025). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/ma/25025/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]