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Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Recorded hazard history: storm events since 1950, federal disaster declarations since 1953, flood insurance claims since 1978, and FEMA's risk index.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. NCEI storm records through 30 Jun 2026; OpenFEMA declarations refreshed 1 Oct 2026; NFIP claims as of 8 Sep 2026.
The NCEI record lists 752 events for Barnstable County, Massachusetts, between 1950 and 2026; damaging wind account for the largest share.
That is 190.8 events per 100 square miles, in line with the Massachusetts figure of 210.6, and 32.4 per 10,000 residents against 23.5 statewide.
4 events fall in the 12 months to 30 Jun 2026. NCEI attributes 3 deaths and 11 injuries to events in the county, with property damage estimated at $29M.
FEMA has designated the county in 24 federal disaster declarations since 1953; the most recent is Hurricane Lee (emergency, 15 Sep 2023).
National Flood Insurance Program policyholders in the county filed 3,184 claims since 1978, of which 2,232 were paid, totalling $43M (about $19K per paid claim). FEMA counts 7,485 residential flood policies in force.
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall risk as "Relatively Moderate" and its expected annual loss as "Relatively Moderate" ($82M a year across 18 hazards).
75 tropical storm or hurricane tracks in the HURDAT2 record passed within 100 miles of the county's centre at tropical-storm strength or more, 8 of them within 50 miles at hurricane strength.
Compared with Massachusetts and the United States
| Measure | Barnstable County | Massachusetts | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded events since 1950 | 752 | 16,427 | 1,977,440 |
| Events per 100 square miles | 190.8 | 210.6 | 56.0 |
| Events per 10,000 residents | 32.4 | 23.5 | 59.6 |
| Events in the last 12 months | 4 | 307 | 62,008 |
| Deaths recorded by NCEI | 3 | 160 | 26,435 |
| Property damage (NCEI estimates) | $29M | $1.2B | $575B |
| NFIP claims per 1,000 residents | 13.7 | 5.1 | 8.1 |
| Average paid NFIP claim | $19K | $16K | $43K |
| Claims per 100 policies in force, last 10 years | 7.1 | 9.2 | 16.1 |
County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county. State and US rows include events recorded only by forecast zone. Rates use 2021 Census population and land area.
Events by decade
Trend: 536 events in the 20 years to 2025 against 203 in the 20 years before. Reporting practice changed in 1996 and again with automated reports in the 2000s, so decade totals measure the record as much as the weather.
Events by type
Hazard pages exist for hail, tornado, flood, wind and winter where the county has at least 10 recorded events. "Other" covers heavy rain, debris flow, dust, funnel clouds and similar reports.
Largest recorded events
| Date | Event type | Group | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 2006 | High Wind | Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jul 2009 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2015 | Blizzard | Winter | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 1977 | Tornado | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 27 May 2001 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 28 Aug 2012 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 2 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | 1 | County |
| 8 May 2000 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Apr 2002 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Jul 2009 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 1 Jul 2016 | Lightning | Lightning | — | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 9 Feb 2013 | Coastal Flood | Flood | — | $5.3M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Aug 2011 | Tropical Storm | Tropical | — | $3.7M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2019 | Tornado | Tornado | EF1 | $3.6M | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 90 mph | $2.6M | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2003 | Lightning | Lightning | — | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2005 | High Wind | Wind | 74 mph | $1.5M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2021 | High Wind | Wind | 84 mph | $1.3M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2019 | Tornado | Tornado | EF1 | $1.2M | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Wind | 90 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
Ranked by deaths, then injuries, then NCEI's damage estimate. Deaths and injuries are NCEI counts (direct plus indirect); no personal details are recorded here.
Federal disaster declarations
| Declared | Number | Type | Incident | Title | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 2023 | EM-3599 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Lee | Public assistance |
| 27 Mar 2020 | DR-4496 | Major disaster | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 13 Mar 2020 | EM-3438 | Emergency | Biological | Covid-19 | Public assistance |
| 25 Jun 2018 | DR-4372 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 13 Apr 2015 | DR-4214 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 19 Apr 2013 | DR-4110 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Public assistance |
| 19 Dec 2012 | DR-4097 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy | Public assistance |
| 28 Oct 2012 | EM-3350 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy | Public assistance |
| 3 Sep 2011 | DR-4028 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Irene | Public assistance |
| 26 Aug 2011 | EM-3330 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene | Public assistance |
| 2 Sep 2010 | EM-3315 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Earl | Public assistance |
| 16 May 2007 | DR-1701 | Major disaster | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Inland And Coastal Flooding | Public assistance |
| 13 Sep 2005 | EM-3252 | Emergency | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Public assistance |
| 17 Feb 2005 | EM-3201 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Record And/Or Near Record Snow | Public assistance |
| 15 Jan 2004 | EM-3191 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Snow | Public assistance |
| 11 Mar 2003 | EM-3175 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Snow | Public assistance |
| 24 Jan 1996 | DR-1090 | Major disaster | Snowstorm | Blizzard Of 96 | Public assistance |
| 16 Mar 1993 | EM-3103 | Emergency | Snowstorm | Blizzards, High Winds & Record Snowfall | Public assistance |
| 21 Dec 1992 | DR-975 | Major disaster | Coastal Storm | Winter Coastal Storm | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 4 Nov 1991 | DR-920 | Major disaster | Coastal Storm | Coastal Storm | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 26 Aug 1991 | DR-914 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Bob | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 28 Oct 1985 | DR-751 | Major disaster | Hurricane | Hurricane Gloria | Public assistance |
| 10 Feb 1978 | DR-546 | Major disaster | Flood | Coastal Storms, Flood, Ice & Snow | Individual assistance, Public assistance |
| 28 Sep 1972 | DR-357 | Major disaster | Fishing Losses | Toxic Algae In Coastal Waters | Individual assistance |
Declarations in which FEMA designated this county, from the OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). DR: major disaster; EM: emergency; FM: fire management assistance. Programs show whether individual or public assistance was made available.
Flood insurance claims
| Year of loss | Claims | Paid claims | Amount paid | Average paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 2 | $4,385 | $2,193 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | $17,433 | $8,716 |
| 2024 | 12 | 10 | $658,519 | $65,852 |
| 2023 | 57 | 41 | $1,005,789 | $24,531 |
| 2022 | 60 | 41 | $2,673,479 | $65,207 |
| 2021 | 24 | 14 | $359,640 | $25,689 |
| 2020 | 8 | 1 | $27,681 | $27,681 |
| 2019 | 16 | 7 | $317,368 | $45,338 |
| 2018 | 294 | 227 | $8,809,858 | $38,810 |
| 2017 | 53 | 34 | $356,685 | $10,491 |
| 2016 | 2 | 1 | $43,061 | $43,061 |
| 2015 | 59 | 46 | $929,680 | $20,210 |
| 2014 | 7 | 4 | $9,730 | $2,432 |
| 2013 | 52 | 27 | $505,380 | $18,718 |
| 2012 | 34 | 26 | $734,761 | $28,260 |
| 2011 | 19 | 7 | $71,374 | $10,196 |
| 2010 | 55 | 35 | $596,867 | $17,053 |
| 2009 | 18 | 8 | $287,963 | $35,995 |
| 2008 | 6 | 4 | $135,033 | $33,758 |
| 2007 | 22 | 11 | $372,495 | $33,863 |
| 2006 | 37 | 32 | $312,065 | $9,752 |
| 2005 | 77 | 56 | $572,389 | $10,221 |
| 2004 | 4 | 2 | $15,216 | $7,608 |
| 2003 | 16 | 9 | $30,886 | $3,432 |
| 2002 | 15 | 9 | $122,256 | $13,584 |
OpenFEMA NFIP claims (v3, as of 8 Sep 2026), aggregated by year of loss; amounts are building, contents and increased-cost-of-compliance payments as recorded. Repetitive-loss counts from the NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (2 Aug 2026); policies in force from the NFIP Residential Penetration Rates file (3 Aug 2026).
National Risk Index
| Hazard (NRI) | Risk rating | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | $44,220,809 | |
| Hurricane | $19,966,652 | |
| Coastal flooding | $12,268,265 | |
| Earthquake | $1,464,337 | |
| Tornado | $1,132,278 | |
| Lightning | $1,059,049 | |
| Strong wind | $789,070 | |
| Hail | $561,129 | |
| Cold wave | $449,768 | |
| Heat wave | $230,233 | |
| Ice storm | $76,142 | |
| Wildfire | $59,280 | |
| Drought | $30,849 | |
| Winter weather | $24,357 | |
| Landslide | $4,568 |
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. Ratings are FEMA's relative comparison of counties; expected annual loss is FEMA's modelled estimate of average yearly building, population and agriculture loss. See how to read the NRI.
Hurricane and tropical storm passes
| Storm | Year | Closest approach | Max wind while within 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa | 2021 | 48 mi | 58 mph |
| Henri | 2021 | 82 mi | 63 mph |
| Ida | 2021 | 32 mi | 46 mph |
| Wanda | 2021 | 45 mi | 69 mph |
| Andrea | 2013 | 49 mi | 46 mph |
| Hanna | 2008 | 80 mi | 52 mph |
| Barry | 2007 | 58 mi | 40 mph |
| Beryl | 2006 | 28 mi | 52 mph |
| Hermine | 2004 | 41 mi | 40 mph |
| Danny | 1997 | 71 mi | 58 mph |
| Bertha | 1996 | 93 mi | 69 mph |
| Josephine | 1996 | 65 mi | 52 mph |
| Bob | 1991 | 67 mi | 104 mph |
| Alberto | 1988 | 62 mi | 40 mph |
| Carrie | 1972 | 37 mi | 69 mph |
| Heidi | 1971 | 71 mi | 58 mph |
| Gerda | 1969 | 68 mi | 121 mph |
| Unnamed Atlantic storm | 1967 | 70 mi | 52 mph |
| Alma | 1966 | 27 mi | 46 mph |
| Alma | 1962 | 63 mi | 81 mph |
| Esther | 1961 | 2 mi | 86 mph |
| Donna | 1960 | 92 mi | 69 mph |
| Cindy | 1959 | 28 mi | 58 mph |
| Diane | 1955 | 51 mi | 46 mph |
| Carol | 1954 | 99 mi | 115 mph |
HURDAT2 best-track positions at tropical-storm strength (34 kt) or more, measured from the county's Census centre point; through the 2025 season. Distance from a track is not the same as the extent of the storm's wind, rain or surge.
ZIP codes with flood claims
- 02657 307
- 02532 243
- 02559 217
- 02540 207
- 02556 167
- 02633 157
- 02673 148
- 02537 144
- 02536 132
- 02670 125
- 02664 117
- 02639 111
- 02632 101
- 02563 95
- 02649 83
- 02601 82
- 02543 81
- 02630 53
- 02574 52
- 02642 51
- 02655 44
- 02653 39
- 02652 31
- 02667 30
- 02534 28
- 02638 28
- 02675 22
- 02671 21
- 02631 21
- 02646 20
- 02662 18
- 02666 16
- 02650 16
- 02553 14
- 02651 13
- 02668 12
- 02635 12
- 02660 12
- 02645 11
- 02643 11
- 02562 10
- 02672 7
- 02659 7
- 02637 6
- 02647 6
- 02565 5
ZIP codes whose NFIP claims carry this county's code, with the number of claims. Five or more claims are needed for a ZIP page to be indexed.
Questions and answers
How often does it hail in Barnstable County, MA?
NCEI records 49 hail events in Barnstable County since 1950, in 19 different years; that is about 0.6 recorded events a year. 2 reports were golf-ball size (1.75 in) or larger.
Has Barnstable County had a tornado?
Yes. NCEI records 8 tornadoes in Barnstable County since 1950, 0 of them rated (E)F2 or stronger. Tornado deaths recorded: 0.
When was the last federal disaster declaration for Barnstable County?
15 Sep 2023: Hurricane Lee, a emergency declaration for hurricane. The county appears in 24 declarations since 1953.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Barnstable County, and how much was paid?
3,184 NFIP claims since 1978, 2,232 of them paid, for $43M in total. FEMA publishes these figures redacted and aggregated; individual properties are not identified.
Is Barnstable County in the National Risk Index's high-risk band?
FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025) rates the county "Relatively Moderate" for overall risk, "Relatively Moderate" for expected annual loss, "Relatively Low" for social vulnerability and "Very High" for community resilience. These ratings are FEMA's relative comparison across all US counties.
How does Barnstable County compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
190.8 recorded events per 100 square miles against 210.6 statewide, and 13.7 NFIP claims per 1,000 residents against 5.1. The comparison table on this page shows each measure beside the state and national figures.
Provenance
Storm events: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026 (public domain). Declarations: OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, refreshed 1 Oct 2026. Flood claims: OpenFEMA NfipClaims v3 as of 8 Sep 2026; NfipMultipleLossProperties v1 (2 Aug 2026); NfipResidentialPenetrationRates v1 (3 Aug 2026). Risk index: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Hurricane tracks: NHC HURDAT2 through 2025. Population and area: US Census Bureau, 2021 vintage. Built 1 Oct 2026; see the methodology and corrections pages. Hazard hubs: Hail · Tornado · Flood · Wind · Winter.