Natural Disasters in Harwich Center, MA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

89.1

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

89.1

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

34.4

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

99.3

Score (0-100)

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster History & Federal Spending

Source: FEMA

Total Declarations

Public Assistance

$32.8M

Individual Assistance

$397K

Most Common Type

Hurricane

10 declarations

Disaster	Type	Date	PA $	IA $
Hurricane Lee →	Hurricane	Sep 2023	—	—
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm →	Snowstorm	Apr 2022	$21K	—
Tropical Storm Henri →	Hurricane	Aug 2021	—	—
Covid-19 Pandemic →	Biological	Mar 2020	$19.2M	$397K
Covid-19 →	Biological	Mar 2020	—	—
Covid-19 →	Biological	Mar 2020	—	—
Severe Winter Storm and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Jun 2018	$972K	—
Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Apr 2015	$2.3M	—
Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Apr 2013	$4.5M	—
Hurricane Sandy →	Hurricane	Dec 2012	$978K	—
Hurricane Sandy →	Hurricane	Oct 2012	—	—
Tropical Storm Irene →	Hurricane	Sep 2011	$1.3M	—
Hurricane Irene →	Hurricane	Aug 2011	—	—
Hurricane Earl →	Hurricane	Sep 2010	$212K	—
Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding →	Severe Storm	May 2007	$495K	—
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation →	Hurricane	Sep 2005	$124K	—
Record And/or Near Record Snow →	Snowstorm	Feb 2005	$2.0M	—
Snow →	Snowstorm	Jan 2004	—	—
Snow →	Snowstorm	Mar 2003	$784K	—
Blizzard of 96 →	Snowstorm	Jan 1996	—	—

Showing 20 of 27 disasters

PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

3,175

Total Claims Paid

$42,770,519

Avg Claim Payout

$13,471

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$662,171

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

8.95

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	3	$50,766
301.1: Shoreline Stabilization (Riprap, etc.)	3	$129,172
601.2: Generators - Regular	2	$153,822
205.8: Retrofitting Public Structures - Wind	2	$137,295
205.7: Retrofitting Private Structures - Wind	1	$14,691

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Harwich Center has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are coastal flood, hurricane, lightning. The area has had 27 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (10 declarations). 3,175 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $32,813,840 in public assistance recovery funding. $397,325 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 18 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.