Natural hazards · Bolton

Bolton, MA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Bolton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1984. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Bolton?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Bolton to be higher than in 21% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding52%Hurricanes28%Cold waves5%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Bolton faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

52% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 18% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

28% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Cold waves

5% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 49% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Bolton flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bolton, from FEMA’s records.

2paid claims since 1984

$4Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19842026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Bolton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Worcester County.

Disasters that hit Bolton

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Bolton itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Bolton.

Brought FEMA money into BoltonDeclared for Worcester County only

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$62K to the Town of Bolton for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$60K to the Town of Bolton for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$40K to the Town of Bolton for repairs

2011

Severe Storm and Snowstorm

$98K to the Town of Bolton for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$7K to the Town of Bolton for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

29 households applied for aid $32K aid approved

2008

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$97K to the Town of Bolton for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $2K aid approved

2005

Record And/Or Near Record Snow

$29K to the Town of Bolton for repairs

2003

Snow

$46K to the Town of Bolton for repairs

2001

Snow

$17K to the Town of Bolton for repairs

Worcester County has had 28 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Bolton

Bolton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Berlinmostly inland floodingLow

Boltonmostly inland floodingLow

Lancastermostly inland floodingLow

Hudsonmostly inland floodingVery low

Harvardmostly inland floodingVery low

Clintonmostly hurricanesVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Bolton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Bolton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Bolton. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Bolton total about $1.5M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.