Photo: AcrossTheAtlantic · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Durham than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Durham gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #18 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1987.
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 stands out about Durham’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Durham 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 Durham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Durham, and Durham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #18 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Durham’s residents live in 4 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, Durham has less expected damage per building than 86% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.6M a year in losses across Durham: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Durham flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Durham, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $53K
Durham isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Strafford County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Durham
Disasters that paid out in Durham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Durham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$16K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$9K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$90K to the Town of Durham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$63K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$41K aid approved$56K to the Town of Durham for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding54 households applied for aid$97K aid approved$619K to the Town of Durham for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$19K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2003Snow$16K to the Town of Durham for repairs
- 2001Snow$24K to the Town of Durham for repairs
Strafford County has had 20 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 Durham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Durham archive →Durham and its neighbors
Durham has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Durham 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 Durham
Is Durham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Durham has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #18 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Durham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Durham since 1987, $213K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (1).
Is Durham 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 Strafford County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Durham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Durham’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 Durham?
By FEMA money that reached Durham, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 54 households applied for aid, $97K approved, and $619K to the Town of Durham for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $53K.
Is Durham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Durham’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Durham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Durham’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.