Massachusetts Taking the Hit From Climate Disasters

A report released by Rebuild by Design, an initiative of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University, has tracked how fires, floods, emergency room visits, and insurance premium increases have accelerated as the world's climate has warmed. Massachusetts has certainly seen its share of these climate impacts.

Bristol and Suffolk counties, including Boston, were hit hardest with eight declared disasters each.

According to the Boston Globe, from 2011 to 2024, Massachusetts has endured 11 federally declared significant disasters costing taxpayers more than $541 million. Among them, flooding was the most common and costly form.

By 2050, according to the Rebuild by Design Report, approximately 22,000 Massachusetts homes are projected to be at substantial flood-related risk, while flood insurance participation among homeowners remains under 2%.

The 2024 wildfire season produced more than 1,300 blazes statewide, driven by drought and human activity, damaging seven homes and more than 40 outbuildings. Bristol and Suffolk counties, including Boston, were hit hardest with eight declared disasters each, signaling a broad statewide impact.

In 2024, residents received about $7.5 million in individual assistance for homeowners and renters after severe storms and flooding, supplementing federal disaster funding.

Sea-level rise and heavier rainfall have driven a 333% increase in tidal flooding since 2000. The coast has risen by about 8 inches since 1950, and Boston's sea level is about 14 inches higher than it was in 1921.

The Boston Globe also reported that Massachusetts home insurance premiums rose about 16% in 2025 as insurers pull back from coastal areas and climate risks mount, squeezing affordability for homeowners.

Despite the rising flood risk, few Massachusetts residents have flood insurance. Flood protection isn't included in most home insurance policies, and less than 2% of homeowners have insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, the Rebuild by Design report said.

“We're really undercounting flood risks,” said Emma Gildesgame, the climate adaptation director for The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, in a statement shared with the Boston Globe. “We need better data to understand the extent of flooding, and we also need action to help people understand and address their flood risk.”

During a June heat wave that set records across New England, ER visits for heat-related illnesses surged. According to Rebuild by Design, Massachusetts could see as many as 29 days a year with temperatures reaching or surpassing 90 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050.

Hessann Farooqi, the executive director of the Boston Climate Action Network, said Boston is particularly at risk of heat-related health complications due to the urban heat island effect. In this case, cities remain significantly warmer than surrounding areas because their buildings, roads, and sidewalks absorb sunlight.