Plymouth County
Massachusetts — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 90th
Plymouth County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 90.4, 90th national percentile), driven primarily by coastal flood and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $114M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 7.14 / yr | $14M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.32 / yr | $71M |
| Strong Wind | High | 0.66 / yr | $3M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.17 / yr | $11M |
| Lightning | High | 18.66 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $5M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 5.09 / yr | $3M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.62 / yr | $690K |
| Drought | Medium | 3.15 / yr | $690K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.03 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.19 / yr | $4K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $78K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.14 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 11.14 / yr | $60K |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.28 / yr | $27K |
| 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 Plymouth County?
Plymouth County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 90.4 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 90th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Plymouth County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Coastal Flood (Very High, $14M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $71M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Plymouth County compare to other Massachusetts counties?
Plymouth County ranks #7 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. Plymouth County's $114M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.