Natural hazards · Salem

Salem, MA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Salem comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 147 claims here since 1978. 13 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Salem?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding54%Earthquakes11%Hurricanes11%Coastal flooding10%Tornadoes6%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Salem faces

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

Inland flooding

54% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 23% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

11% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

11% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Coastal flooding

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 39% of U.S. places

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Salem flood?

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

147paid claims since 1978

$2.5Mpaid to owners

22homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

The “Halloween” storm: 20 claims, $198K
Not a named storm: 12 claims, $33K
December Storm - Nor'easter: 11 claims, $38K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Essex County.

Disasters that hit Salem

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SalemDeclared for Essex County only

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$248K to the City of Salem for repairs

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$116K to the City of Salem for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$332K to the City of Salem for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$174K to the City of Salem for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$5K to the City of Salem for repairs

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$113K to the City of Salem for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

145 households applied for aid $132K aid approved $13K to the City of Salem for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

$123K to the City of Salem for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

149 households applied for aid $252K aid approved $238K to the City of Salem for repairs

2005

Record And/Or Near Record Snow

$183K to the City of Salem for repairs

2004

Flooding

47 households applied for aid $43K aid approved

2003

Snow

$132K to the City of Salem for repairs

2001

Snow

$91K to the City of Salem for repairs

Essex County has had 34 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Salem

Salem and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Peabodymostly inland floodingLow

Salemmostly inland floodingLow

Danversmostly inland floodingVery low

Swampscottmostly inland floodingVery low

Beverlymostly inland floodingVery low

Marbleheadmostly inland floodingVery 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. Salem covers 9 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Salem’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Salem. 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 Salem total about $8.6M 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.