Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Auburn than in 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Auburn gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #27 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2010.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Auburn faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Auburn’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Auburn, and Auburn’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B #27 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Auburn’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Auburn has less expected damage per building than 79% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Auburn: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Auburn flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Auburn, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Auburn isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockingham County.16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Auburn
Disasters that paid out in Auburn itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Auburn), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$33K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$40K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$34K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$10K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$8K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
Show all 16
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$83K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$11K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$46K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$147K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$157K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding18 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$296K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding27 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$343K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$11K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2003Snow$13K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
- 2001Snow$18K to the Town of Auburn for repairs
Rockingham County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Auburn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Auburn archive →Auburn and its neighbors
Auburn is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hooksett | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Auburn | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Candia | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Chester | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Manchester | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| South Hooksett | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Auburn faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Auburn
Is Auburn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Auburn has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #27 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (6%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Auburn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Auburn since 2010, $33K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Auburn in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Rockingham County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Auburn?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Auburn’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Auburn?
By FEMA money that reached Auburn, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 27 households applied for aid, $34K approved, and $343K to the Town of Auburn for repairs.
Is Auburn at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Auburn’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Auburn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Auburn’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.