Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Campton than in 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Campton gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #124 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1986.
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 Campton 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
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 Campton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Campton, and Campton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #124 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Campton’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, Campton has more expected damage per building than 98% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Campton: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Campton flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Campton, from FEMA’s records: 13.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $86K
Campton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grafton County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Campton
Disasters that paid out in Campton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Campton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$64K to the Town of Campton for repairs
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding$69K to the Town of Campton for repairs
- 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$28K to the Town of Campton for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$66K to the Town of Campton for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms and Flooding$38K to the Town of Campton for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene40 households applied for aid$64K aid approved$49K to the Town of Campton for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $86K
Show all 11
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$11K to the Town of Campton for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$23K to the Town of Campton for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$10K to the Town of Campton for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$5K to the Town of Campton for repairs
- 2001Snow$6K to the Town of Campton for repairs
Grafton County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Campton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Campton archive →Campton and its neighbors
Campton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Sandwich | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rumney | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Campton | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Thornton | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Ellsworth | — | 51 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Campton 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.
- 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 Campton
Is Campton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Campton has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #124 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). 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 Campton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Campton since 1986, $392K in all, or 13.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (3).
Is Campton 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 Grafton County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Campton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Campton’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 Campton?
By FEMA money that reached Campton, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): 40 households applied for aid, $64K approved, and $49K to the Town of Campton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 3 paid, $86K.
Is Campton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Campton’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Campton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Campton’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.