Massachusetts
Massachusetts insurance agent says rates could go up across country after California fires
NORWOOD – As harrowing images of homes burning to the ground come in day after day from California, Massachusetts homeowners are understandably questioning whether they are prepared and properly insured should a catastrophe hit our coast.
“There’s a ripple effect”
“Whenever you see catastrophic losses like they’re seeing in California right now, there’s going to be ramification, repercussions across the country, if not across the world,” explained local insurance agent and former chair of the Mass. Association of Insurance Agents, Patrick Dempsey of Norwood.
“That could mean rates go up for people across the country, even though it’s not happening in our backyard. It’s happening to a market that’s going to impact ours here. So, there’s a ripple effect for sure,” he said.
Dempsey explained that insurance companies are not equipped to cover sudden losses of hundreds of billions of dollars, and in a time like we’re seeing in California, they tap into their own insurance companies in the “reinsurance” industry.
Fortunately for now, Massachusetts doesn’t seem poised to experience fires like the West Coast does as weather intensifies worldwide. “[Fires] haven’t really been prominent here, although we did have some this past year in kind of the Milton Blue Hills area there. There were legitimate forest fire concerns,” he said.
One huge challenge in California right now, Dempsey explained, is that the state “has been noted to go through some struggles in the recent past with certain larger carriers kind of pulling back in large scale.”
Massachusetts safety net
Since insurance is governed on a state level, Dempsey feels Massachusetts residents should be comforted by our state’s safety net.
“I think it is a little bit of a feather in the cap for Massachusetts, that the Insurance Commissioner’s office and the companies work quite well together in the sense that they’re not taking aggressive rates that are unnecessary, but they’re keeping the companies in a way that they’re bringing enough premiums to pay out the claims. It’s a delicate balance,” he said. “Other states might be jealous of how well it’s being done right now, and I’m proud that that’s going so well in our state, so hopefully good things in the future.”
Dempsey’s advice to Massachusetts homeowners is likely not surprising, given that he is a local agent. He recommends staying local and using an agent to find the home insurance policy that’s right for you.
“When you deal with an agent, they can really take you through these steps, and they also know their backyard,” he said. “You know, if I’m writing a policy in Norwood, I’ll know when certain homes are going to be near, say, a brook or a stream that might put it in a flood zone.”
Essential water safety tips
Learn essential water safety tips to ensure a fun and safe summer for the whole family.
Massachusetts residents love their beach towns.
And Condé Nast Magazine loves two particular beach towns in the Bay State, but surprisingly didn’t pick a beach on Cape Cod.
That’s why the towns were included on the magazine’s 2025 list of the 17 best beach towns on the East Coast.
“Whether you’re looking to lay out on the sand in summer or prefer walking along the water spotting wildlife and collecting rocks, the shores of the East Coast have a little something for everyone,” Condé Nast stated on its website.
Here’s more about the magazine’s favorite beach towns in Massachusetts.
Oak Bluffs ranked No. 5 on the list
Coming in at number 5 is one of the most popular spots on Martha’s Vineyard – Oak Bluffs.
What they said: “The colorful gingerbread houses for which Oak Bluffs is known are straight out of a storybook. Visitors walk straight off their boats into Ocean Park, a circular green overlooking the sea, encircled by said houses, with a frothy, delicate gazebo sitting in the center. Oak Bluffs has a long history of welcoming Black visitors, and today it is home to the annual African-American Film Festival.”
Rockport ranked No. 4 on the list
Rockport is a town on the North Shore of the Bay State.
What they said: “The coastal region is known for its excellent seafood, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Many a good film has been filmed here as well, such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’ and Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester-by-the-Sea.’
“Forty miles north of Boston, (Rockport) has a can’t-miss natural gem in Halibut Point State Park, from which visitors can spot Maine in the distance 80 miles away. Rockport is also beloved by art history buffs: it is home to Motif Number 1, a fishing shack with the superlative ‘the most-often painted building in America.’ It was built in 1840, and was a popular subject because it represented New England’s nautical character.”
What other regions of New England are on the list?
According to Condé Nast, they include:
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Kennebunkport, Maine
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
- Madison, Connecticut
Up the road from Gillette Stadium, a town neighboring Foxboro is pressing for funding to meet public safety demands arising from the World Cup, with the first match just over a month away.
Walpole’s state delegation has written a letter to the state Office of Travel and Tourism requesting approval of the town’s request for nearly $200,000 to support “essential public safety personnel,” as officials expect “significant spillover impacts” from the premier soccer tournament.
As the Walpole/Foxboro town line on Route 1 is a handful of miles north of Gillette Stadium, officials are expecting increased traffic congestion and pedestrian activity to amount to “heightened public safety demands.”
“As outlined in the Town’s proposal,” the state delegation wrote in the letter it sent to the state last week, “Walpole will play a critical role in ensuring safe and efficient operations for both residents and visitors.”
“This funding will help close a critical gap and ensure that Walpole can safely support this internationally significant event,” the delegation added.
The state Office of Travel and Tourism confirmed to the Herald that it received the letter from state Reps. John H. Rogers, Paul McMurtry, Ted Philips and Marcus Vaughn and Sen. Mike Rush. The office said it will announce decisions in the coming weeks about round two of the $2 million grant program that supports municipal public safety needs tied to the World Cup.
The first round of the program, a $10 million competitive initiative, awarded funding earlier this year to 17 communities to support tournament-related events, including fan festivals, watch parties and regional activations.
This comes after the Foxboro Select Board battled the Boston Soccer 2026 nonprofit host committee and Kraft Sports & Entertainment, which operates Gillette Stadium, for months to ensure it received full funding to cover all security personnel and equipment.
In mid-March, the David vs. Goliath fight concluded, with Boston Soccer 2026 and the Krafts agreeing to cover Foxboro’s $7.8 million request.
Gillette, which will be rebranded as “Boston Stadium,” is set to host seven matches – five in the group stage and two knockout games – between June 13 and July 9. The World Cup is considered a SEAR 1 event, the highest risk level for public gatherings in the country.
“These matches will bring an excitement that this town has never seen,” Foxboro Police Chief Michael Grace said before the Select Board voted to grant an entertainment license for the matches to go on.
-
New York1 hour agoMaya Lin Connects Nature to a New Manhattan Skyscraper and Beyond
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoA chilly start to the week gives way to warmer weather in Metro Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoMother’s Day Gamethread: Giants vs. Pirates
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoCaitlin Clark Responds to Dallas Wings Win Over Indiana Fever
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoJarvis Landry Doesn’t Hold Back on Dolphins Offseason
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoOle Miss softball to play Boston in NCAA tournament Lubbock Regional
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoNew video shows trespasser on Denver airport runway before deadly collision
-
Seattle, WA3 hours agoGrowing memorials honor young employee found dead at North Seattle beer garden