Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Charlestown as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Charlestown gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #47 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Charlestown 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 Charlestown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Charlestown, and Charlestown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #47 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Charlestown’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, Charlestown has less expected damage per building than 63% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Charlestown: $888K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Charlestown flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Charlestown, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Charlestown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sullivan County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Charlestown
Disasters that paid out in Charlestown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Charlestown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$79K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2021Severe Storm and Flooding$154K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$5K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$3K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$13K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
Show all 12
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$11K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$207K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$6K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$5K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2003Snow$11K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs
Sullivan County has had 27 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 Charlestown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Charlestown archive →Charlestown and its neighbors
Charlestown is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Charlestown | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Claremont | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Unity | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rockingham | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Langdon | — | 805 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Acworth | — | 851 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 Charlestown 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 Charlestown
Is Charlestown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Charlestown has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #47 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (5%). 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 Charlestown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Charlestown since 1996, $30K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Charlestown 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 Sullivan County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Charlestown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Charlestown’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 Charlestown?
By FEMA money that reached Charlestown, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): 7 households applied for aid, $12K approved, and $207K to the Town of Charlestown for repairs.
Is Charlestown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Charlestown’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Charlestown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Charlestown’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.