Natural Disasters in Worcester, MA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

93.5

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

94.6

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

22.0

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

85.9

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

$119.4M

Individual Assistance

$5.0M

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

8 declarations

Disaster	Type	Date	PA $	IA $
Severe Storms and Flooding →	Flood	May 2024	—	$146K
Hurricane Lee →	Hurricane	Sep 2023	—	—
Covid-19 Pandemic →	Biological	Mar 2020	$64.8M	$3.6M
Covid-19 →	Biological	Mar 2020	—	—
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm →	Snowstorm	Jul 2018	$2.6M	—
Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Apr 2015	$5.0M	—
Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Apr 2013	$3.8M	—
Hurricane Sandy →	Hurricane	Oct 2012	—	—
Severe Storm and Snowstorm →	Severe Storm	Jan 2012	$6.8M	—
Severe Storm →	Severe Storm	Nov 2011	—	—
Hurricane Irene →	Hurricane	Aug 2011	$769K	—
Severe Storms and Tornadoes →	Tornado	Jun 2011	$311K	$2K
Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm →	Snow	Mar 2011	$89K	—
Hurricane Earl →	Hurricane	Sep 2010	—	—
Severe Storms and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Mar 2010	$1.3M	$587K
Severe Winter Storm and Flooding →	Severe Ice Storm	Jan 2009	$27.3M	—
Severe Winter Storm →	Severe Storm	Dec 2008	—	—
Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding →	Severe Storm(s)	May 2007	$5K	—
Severe Storms and Flooding →	Severe Storm	Nov 2005	$1.3M	$696K
Hurricane Katrina Evacuation →	Hurricane	Sep 2005	—	—

Showing 20 of 34 disasters

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

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

764

Total Claims Paid

$12,583,584

Avg Claim Payout

$16,471

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

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$7,180,596

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.23

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
403.1: Stormwater Management - Culverts	9	$3,064,463
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	9	$1,293,363
601.2: Generators - Regular	7	$227,170
601.1: Generators	4	$397,938
401.1: Water and Sanitary Sewer System Protective Measures	2	$72,750

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

Worcester has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are ice storm, strong wind, hurricane. The area has had 32 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (8 declarations). 764 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $119,371,291 in public assistance recovery funding. $5,043,610 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 44 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.