Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Deerfield as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerfield gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #61 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1982.
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 Deerfield 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 Deerfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Deerfield, and Deerfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #61 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Deerfield’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, Deerfield has less expected damage per building than 52% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Deerfield: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Deerfield flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Deerfield, from FEMA’s records: 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $2K
Deerfield 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.17 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Deerfield
Disasters that paid out in Deerfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Deerfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$330K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$23K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$5K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$4K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
Show all 17
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$3K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$41K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$145K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$134K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornado, and Flooding$69K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding40 households applied for aid$110K aid approved$736K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$55K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$13K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$14K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs
- 2001Snow$16K to the Town of Deerfield 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 Deerfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Deerfield archive →Deerfield and its neighbors
Deerfield is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwood | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hooksett | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Candia | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Deerfield | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Nottingham | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Allenstown | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 79 |
| Epsom | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
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 Deerfield 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 Deerfield
Is Deerfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Deerfield has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #61 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) 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 Deerfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Deerfield since 1982, $169K in all, or 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Nor'easter (1).
Is Deerfield 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 Deerfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Deerfield’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 Deerfield?
By FEMA money that reached Deerfield, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 40 households applied for aid, $110K approved, and $736K to the Town of Deerfield for repairs. By flood claims, December Nor'easter: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Deerfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Deerfield’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Deerfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Deerfield’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.