Water Risk Profile — ZIP 02140
Flood risk, local cost data, climate factors, and insurance context for your ZIP code.
Flood Risk
Medium
Cost Range
$1,500–$8,500
Avg Response
42 min
NFIP
State participates
Local Climate & Risk Factors
Cambridge area properties face Massachusetts' winter water damage risks: ice dams from inadequate attic insulation, pipe bursts during polar air intrusions when temperatures drop below 0°F, and spring snowmelt flooding. Massachusetts' clay soils retain water against foundations in spring, creating chronic basement moisture in homes without proper perimeter drainage. Coastal and harbor communities face coastal flooding from nor'easters and tropical storm remnants. Massachusetts Division of Insurance handles claim disputes — the state has specific prompt-pay requirements for property damage claims.
Flood-prone areas: Cambridgeport and Riverside sit adjacent to the Charles River and flood during spring snowmelt. Strawberry Hill and Fresh Pond neighborhoods border Alewife Brook, a documented repetitive flood area. East Cambridge rowhouses feature 100-year-old brick foundations highly susceptible to groundwater seepage and basement intrusion.
Water Category Cost Table — Cambridge, MA
Extraction & drying cost per square foot by IICRC water category
| Water Category | $/sq ft |
|---|---|
| Category 1 — Clean Burst supply line, clean appliance overflow | $2.72–$6.74 |
| Category 2 — Gray Dishwasher, washing machine, toilet bowl (no feces) | $6.74–$8.16 |
| Category 3 — Black Sewage backup, floodwater, toilet overflow with feces | $9.59–$12.1 |
Estimates exclude reconstruction (drywall, flooring replacement). National benchmarks: Cat 1 $3.75–$4.25, Cat 2 $4.10–$6.50, Cat 3 $7–$7.50/sq ft — adjusted for Cambridge market (3.2–11/sq ft range).