Photo: Ken Gallager at Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Enfield’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Enfield gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #108 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2011.
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 Enfield 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 Enfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Enfield, and Enfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #108 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Enfield’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, Enfield has more expected damage per building than 86% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Enfield: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Enfield flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Enfield, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $30K
Enfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grafton County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Enfield
Disasters that paid out in Enfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Enfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$54K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$65K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding$17K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
- 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$101K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$7K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms and Flooding$64K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
Show all 12
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$5K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene11 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$320K to the Town of Enfield for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $30K
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$27K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
- 2001Snow$13K to the Town of Enfield for repairs
Grafton County has had 34 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 Enfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Enfield archive →Enfield and its neighbors
Enfield is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grantham | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Lebanon | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Enfield | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Canaan | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Grafton | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Enfield 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 Enfield
Is Enfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Enfield has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #108 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). 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 Enfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Enfield since 2011, $78K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Enfield 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 Grafton County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Enfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Enfield’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 Enfield?
By FEMA money that reached Enfield, Tropical Storm Irene (2011): 11 households applied for aid, $17K approved, and $320K to the Town of Enfield for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $30K.
Is Enfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Enfield’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Enfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Enfield’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.