Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Bow’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bow gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #26 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 2006.
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 Bow 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 Bow’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bow, and Bow’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B #26 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bow’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, Bow has less expected damage per building than 80% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Bow: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bow flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bow, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Bow 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.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bow
Disasters that paid out in Bow itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bow), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$14K to the Town of Bow for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$36K to the Town of Bow for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$5K to the Town of Bow for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$8K to the Town of Bow for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$37K to the Town of Bow for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$51K to the Town of Bow for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 13
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$19K to the Town of Bow for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding55 households applied for aid$86K aid approved$254K to the Town of Bow for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$5K to the Town of Bow for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$31K to the Town of Bow for repairs
- 2003Snow$25K to the Town of Bow for repairs
- 2003Snow$16K to the Town of Bow for repairs
- 2001Snow$19K to the Town of Bow for repairs
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 Bow after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bow archive →Bow and its neighbors
Bow is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunbarton | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hooksett | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Bow | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Concord | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Pembroke | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Hopkinton | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Suncook | — | 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 Bow 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 Bow
Is Bow at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bow has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #26 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and hurricanes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bow flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Bow since 2006, $547K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Bow 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 Bow?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bow’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 Bow?
By FEMA money that reached Bow, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 55 households applied for aid, $86K approved, and $254K to the Town of Bow for repairs.
Is Bow at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Bow’s rate for it is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bow.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bow’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.