Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Derry 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, Derry gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #37 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 27 claims here since 1994.
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 Derry 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
Earthquakes
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 Derry’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Derry, and Derry’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B #37 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Derry’s residents live in 6 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, Derry has less expected damage per building than 71% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.0M a year in losses across Derry: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Derry flood? Sometimes: 27 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Derry, from FEMA’s records: 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $3K
Derry 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.16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Derry
Disasters that paid out in Derry itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Derry), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$39K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$109K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$98K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$120K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$26K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$750 to the Town of Derry for repairs
Show all 16
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$121K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$17K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$79K to the Town of Derry for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$504K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding44 households applied for aid$64K aid approved$95K to the Town of Derry for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding229 households applied for aid$390K aid approved$171K to the Town of Derry for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$47K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$64K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2003Snow$46K to the Town of Derry for repairs
- 2001Snow$62K to the Town of Derry 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 Derry after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Derry archive →Derry and its neighbors
Derry is 7th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampstead | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Atkinson | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Windham | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Londonderry | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Sandown | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Salem | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 106 |
| Derry | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Chester | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Derry 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Derry
Is Derry at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Derry has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #37 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Derry flood?
Flood insurance has paid 27 claims in Derry since 1994, $207K in all, or 1.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (2).
Is Derry 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 Derry?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Derry’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 Derry?
By FEMA money that reached Derry, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 229 households applied for aid, $390K approved, and $171K to the Town of Derry for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $3K.
Is Derry at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Derry’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Derry.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Derry’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.