Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Claremont than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Claremont gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #76 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 23 claims here since 1981.
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 Claremont 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 Claremont’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Claremont, and Claremont’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C #76 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Claremont’s residents live in 3 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, Claremont has more expected damage per building than 60% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Claremont: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Claremont flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Claremont, from FEMA’s records: 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Claremont 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.16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Claremont
Disasters that paid out in Claremont itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Claremont), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$38K to the City of Claremont for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$6K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding$307K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$23K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$4K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$5K to the City of Claremont for repairs
Show all 16
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$194K to the City of Claremont for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$18K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$171K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$53K to the City of Claremont for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$277K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$18K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$16K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$13K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2003Snow$15K to the City of Claremont for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding$3K to the City of Claremont 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 Claremont after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Claremont archive →Claremont and its neighbors
Claremont 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weathersfield | Bless damage than 56% | 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 | — |
| Cornish | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Newport | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Ascutney | — | 381 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 Claremont 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 Claremont
Is Claremont at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Claremont has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #76 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Claremont flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Claremont since 1981, $275K in all, or 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Claremont 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 Claremont?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Claremont’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 Claremont?
By FEMA money that reached Claremont, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2013): $307K to the City of Claremont for repairs.
Is Claremont at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Claremont’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Claremont.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Claremont’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.