Natural hazards · Westport

Westport, MA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Westport comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 97 claims here since 1978. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Westport?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Westport to be higher than in 19% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding67%Hurricanes15%Coastal flooding5%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Westport faces

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

Inland flooding

67% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 34% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

15% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 5 years in the area

Coastal flooding

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Westport flood?

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

97paid claims since 1978

$1.6Mpaid to owners

8homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Bob: 45 claims, $928K
Hurricane Sandy: 10 claims, $149K
March 2010 Nor'easter: 5 claims, $228K

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. Westport isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Bristol County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Westport

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WestportDeclared for Bristol County only

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $750 aid approved

2022

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$37K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$21K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$51K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$9K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

$41K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

$73K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2010

Hurricane Earl

$15K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

179 households applied for aid $376K aid approved $277K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $9K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2005

Record And/Or Near Record Snow

$42K to the Town of Westport for repairs

2003

Snow

$51K to the Town of Westport for repairs

Bristol County has had 23 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Westport

Westport and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Fall Rivermostly inland floodingLow

Westportmostly inland floodingVery low

Tivertonmostly inland floodingVery low

Little Comptonmostly inland floodingVery low

Dartmouthmostly 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. Westport covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Westport’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Westport. 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 Westport total about $2.6M 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.