Dukes County
Massachusetts — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 17th
Dukes County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 16.8, 17th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and coastal flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $7M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.16 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.69 / yr | $348K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $113K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.18 / yr | $4M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $14K |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.45 / yr | $4K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $54 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 15.85 / yr | $50K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $7K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.04 / yr | $83K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.74 / yr | $14K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.32 / yr | $60K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.37 / yr | $27K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 6.74 / yr | $2K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.56 / yr | $1K |
| 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 Dukes County?
Dukes County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 16.8 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 17th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Dukes County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Hurricane (Low, $2M EAL), Coastal Flood (Low, $348K EAL), Earthquake (Very Low, $113K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Dukes County compare to other Massachusetts counties?
Dukes County ranks #14 of 14 Massachusetts counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low 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. Dukes County's $7M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.