Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Chester faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chester gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #40 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 2 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 Chester 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 Chester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chester, and Chester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #40 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Chester’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, Chester has less expected damage per building than 69% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Chester: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chester flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chester, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Chester 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chester
Disasters that paid out in Chester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Chester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$25K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$43K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$40K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$9K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$11K to the Town of Chester for repairs
Show all 14
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$61K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$112K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$49K to the Town of Chester for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$76K to the Town of Chester for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$15K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$21K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2003Snow$19K to the Town of Chester for repairs
- 2001Snow$21K to the Town of Chester for repairs
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.
Old photos of Chester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chester archive →Chester and its neighbors
Chester is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Sandown | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Candia | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Derry | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Chester | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Raymond | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 73 |
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 Chester 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 Chester
Is Chester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chester has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #40 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (6%). 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 Chester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Chester since 2006, $11K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Chester 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 Chester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chester’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 Chester?
By FEMA money that reached Chester, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $112K to the Town of Chester for repairs.
Is Chester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Chester’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chester’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.