Natural hazards · Sutton

Sutton, MA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Sutton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2005. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Sutton?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Sutton to be higher than in 15% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding45%Hurricanes32%Cold waves6%Everything else17%

By hazard

What Sutton faces

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

Inland flooding

45% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 10% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

32% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 46% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 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 Sutton flood?

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

2paid claims since 2005

$20Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

20052026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 1 claim, $5K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Sutton 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 Sutton

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SuttonDeclared for Worcester County only

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$39K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$64K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$54K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

2011

Severe Storm and Snowstorm

$62K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$12K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

17 households applied for aid $17K aid approved

2008

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$26K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $3K aid approved $18K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

2005

Record And/Or Near Record Snow

$32K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

2003

Snow

$39K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

2001

Snow

$14K to the Town of Sutton for repairs

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

Around Sutton

Sutton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Uxbridgemostly inland floodingLow

Oxfordmostly inland floodingLow

Douglasmostly inland floodingLow

Millburymostly inland floodingLow

Northbridgemostly inland floodingLow

Graftonmostly inland floodingLow

Suttonmostly 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. Sutton covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Sutton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Sutton. 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 Sutton total about $1.6M 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.