Coastal Flood Risk in Massachusetts
All Massachusetts counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index coastal flood score
Coastal Flood risk — seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels — is rated for 9 of 14 Massachusetts counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Essex County carries the state's highest coastal flood score at 97.8, with $19M in expected annual coastal flood losses.
5 Massachusetts counties are rated High or Very High for coastal flood, and expected annual losses from coastal flood total roughly $61M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Coastal Flood
| # | County | Coastal Flood Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essex County | Very High | 8.13 / yr | $19M | |
| 2 | Barnstable County | Very High | 4.83 / yr | $12M | |
| 3 | Plymouth County | Very High | 7.14 / yr | $14M | |
| 4 | Suffolk County | High | 7.40 / yr | $6M | |
| 5 | Norfolk County | High | 7.92 / yr | $5M | |
| 6 | Nantucket County | Medium | 3.69 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Bristol County | Medium | 3.72 / yr | $922K | |
| 8 | Middlesex County | Low | 6.16 / yr | $418K | |
| 9 | Dukes County | Low | 3.69 / yr | $348K |
9 Massachusetts counties with measurable coastal flood risk. See the national coastal flood ranking or all Massachusetts counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Massachusetts county has the highest coastal flood risk?
Essex County has the highest FEMA coastal flood risk score in Massachusetts at 97.8 (Very High), with $19M in expected annual losses and about 8.13 events per year.
How many Massachusetts counties face significant coastal flood risk?
9 Massachusetts counties record measurable coastal flood risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 5 of them are rated High or Very High.