Essex County, MA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Essex County has experienced 40 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Hurricane Lee in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Essex County's highest-rated hazards are coastal flooding, ice storm, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 44% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Essex County has been designated in 40 declarations since 1972, covering 10 disaster types including severe storm (10), snowstorm (8), hurricane (7).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Lee |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2011 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 40 total declarations since 1972.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 59.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 97.1 | 78 | 0 | $351K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very High | 97.8 | 19 | 0 | $90K |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 94.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 91.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 92.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively High | 93.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 14.9 | 16 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 88.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 46 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 97.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 79.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 95 | 10 | 0 | $79K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 89.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 62.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Essex County ranks in the 61st percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 61st | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 39th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 56th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 70th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 80th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 18th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 21st | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 21.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 123 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 79 in 2016–20 vs 44 in 2021–25 (-44% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Essex County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Essex County, Massachusetts are coastal flooding, ice storm, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Essex County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Essex County has received 40 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (10 declarations).
Has Essex County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Essex County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Hurricane Lee in 2023.
How does Essex County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Middlesex County, MA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Strafford County, NH has the lowest (Relatively Low). Essex County is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Essex County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Essex County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Essex County's composite score of 96 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 96% of US counties.