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Mary E Bartlett Library, Brentwood NHPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Brentwood · FEMA

FEMA puts Brentwood’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brentwood gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #21 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1987.

River and rain flooding 82%Earthquakes 7%Hurricanes 7%

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

less than 65%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#21 of 126 in New Hampshire
Hazard risk
B#21 of 126
in New Hampshire · lower than 65% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
82% of expected building damage
Flood claims
9
paid since 1987 · $75K
Flooded more than once
1
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
13
of 29 declared for Rockingham County
By hazard

What Brentwood 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

82%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

7%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts

Hurricanes

7%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 8 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms Tornadoes Strong wind Wildfire Lightning Hail Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Brentwood’s grade

River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brentwood, and Brentwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Brentwood sits
Brentwood
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #21 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Brentwood’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding82%Earthquakes7%Hurricanes7%Everything else5%

The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brentwood has less expected damage per building than 84% of New Hampshire towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Brentwood: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Brentwood’s 4,490 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract. FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Brentwood flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1987

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brentwood, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 2 claims2007: 1 claim2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198719962006
19872026
Biggest named events
  • The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $8K
9
paid claims since 1987
$75K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$8K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Brentwood 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.
Disasters

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brentwood

Disasters that paid out in Brentwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Brentwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$45K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
  2. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
  3. 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
  4. 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
  5. 2012Hurricane Sandy$8K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
  6. 2010Severe Winter Storm$17K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 13
  1. 2008Severe Winter Storm$52K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
  2. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$51 aid approved$83K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$19K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2005Record Snow$11K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
  5. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$9K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
  6. 2003Snow$5K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
  7. 2001Snow$10K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in BrentwoodRockingham County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Brentwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Brentwood archive →
Next door

Brentwood and its neighbors

Brentwood is 2nd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Exeter: hazard risk B−Kingston: hazard risk A−Fremont: hazard risk B−ExeterKingstonFremontBrentwood
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
KingstonA−less damage than 79%river and rain flooding8
BrentwoodBless damage than 65%river and rain flooding9
ExeterB−less damage than 50%river and rain flooding72
FremontB−more damage than 53%river and rain flooding40

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Brentwood faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Brentwood

Is Brentwood at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brentwood has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #21 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (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 Brentwood flood?

Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Brentwood since 1987, $75K in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (1).

Is Brentwood 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 Brentwood?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brentwood’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 Brentwood?

By FEMA money that reached Brentwood, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 2 households applied for aid, $51 approved, and $83K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $8K.

Is Brentwood at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Brentwood’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brentwood.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brentwood’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.