Canaan Chapel · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Barrington as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barrington gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #50 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1996.
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 Barrington 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
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 Barrington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Barrington, and Barrington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #50 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Barrington’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Barrington has less expected damage per building than 61% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Barrington: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Barrington flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Barrington, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Barrington isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Strafford County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Barrington
Disasters that paid out in Barrington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Barrington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Barrington for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$30K to the Town of Barrington for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$33K to the Town of Barrington for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$27K to the Town of Barrington for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$68K to the Town of Barrington for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding57 households applied for aid$95K aid approved$131K to the Town of Barrington for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding67 households applied for aid$129K aid approved$36K to the Town of Barrington for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$20K to the Town of Barrington for repairs
- 2003Snow$13K to the Town of Barrington for repairs
- 2001Snow$23K to the Town of Barrington for repairs
Strafford County has had 20 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 Barrington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Barrington archive →Barrington and its neighbors
Barrington is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strafford | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Rochester | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Madbury | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Barrington | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Nottingham | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
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 Barrington 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.
- 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 Barrington
Is Barrington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Barrington has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #50 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Barrington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Barrington since 1996, $139K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Barrington 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 Strafford County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Barrington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Barrington’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 Barrington?
By FEMA money that reached Barrington, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 57 households applied for aid, $95K approved, and $131K to the Town of Barrington for repairs.
Is Barrington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Barrington’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Barrington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Barrington’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.