Barnstable County
Massachusetts — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 89th
Barnstable County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 89.1, 89th national percentile), driven primarily by coastal flood and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $82M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 4.83 / yr | $12M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.15 / yr | $20M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.07 / yr | $44M |
| Lightning | High | 15.13 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 0.55 / yr | $561K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.08 / yr | $5K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.29 / yr | $789K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $59K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.15 / yr | $76K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.09 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 1.11 / yr | $230K |
| Drought | Low | 1.87 / yr | $31K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.58 / yr | $450K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 9.79 / yr | $24K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Barnstable County?
Barnstable County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 89.1 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 89th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Barnstable County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Coastal Flood (Very High, $12M EAL), Hurricane (High, $20M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $44M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Barnstable County compare to other Massachusetts counties?
Barnstable County ranks #9 of 14 Massachusetts counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Barnstable County's $82M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.