Photo: Craig Michaud at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Boscawen than in 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boscawen gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #70 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2004.
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 Boscawen 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 Boscawen’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Boscawen, and Boscawen’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #70 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Boscawen’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, Boscawen has more expected damage per building than 55% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Boscawen: $888K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Boscawen flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Boscawen, 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.
Boscawen isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Merrimack County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Boscawen
Disasters that paid out in Boscawen itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Boscawen), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$22K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Merrimack County has had 24 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 Boscawen after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Boscawen archive →Boscawen and its neighbors
Boscawen is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Concord | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Boscawen | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Salisbury | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Franklin | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Webster | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Northfield | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Boscawen 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 Boscawen
Is Boscawen at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Boscawen has higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #70 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (7%). 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 Boscawen flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Boscawen since 2004, $4K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Boscawen 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 Merrimack County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Boscawen?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Boscawen’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 Boscawen?
By FEMA money that reached Boscawen, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 19 households applied for aid, $22K approved.
Is Boscawen at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Boscawen’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Boscawen.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Boscawen’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.