Essex County
Massachusetts — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Essex County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.6, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by coastal flood and ice storm exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $199M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 8.13 / yr | $19M |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 1.46 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 2.68 / yr | $125M |
| Lightning | High | 19.41 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $15M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.17 / yr | $15M |
| Tornado | High | 0.12 / yr | $9M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 5.07 / yr | $4M |
| Drought | Medium | 8.48 / yr | $2M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.75 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.38 / yr | $4M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.25 / yr | $3K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $83K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 15.06 / yr | $59K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.79 / yr | $53K |
| 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 Essex County?
Essex County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.6 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Essex County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Coastal Flood (Very High, $19M EAL), Ice Storm (Very High, $3M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $125M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Essex County compare to other Massachusetts counties?
Essex County ranks #2 of 14 Massachusetts counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high 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. Essex County's $199M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.