Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Farmington than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Farmington gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #112 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1979.
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 Farmington 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 Farmington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Farmington, and Farmington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #112 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Farmington’s residents live in 2 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, Farmington has more expected damage per building than 89% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Farmington: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Farmington flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Farmington, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $22K
Farmington 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 Farmington
Disasters that paid out in Farmington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Farmington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$25K to the Town of Farmington for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the Town of Farmington for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Town of Farmington for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$10K to the Town of Farmington for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$60K to the Town of Farmington for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$79K to the Town of Farmington for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$67K to the Town of Farmington for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding60 households applied for aid$54K aid approved$432K to the Town of Farmington for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding40 households applied for aid$79K aid approved$252K to the Town of Farmington for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$9K to the Town of Farmington for repairs
- 2003Snow$13K to the Town of Farmington for repairs
- 2001Snow$10K to the Town of Farmington 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 Farmington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Farmington archive →Farmington and its neighbors
Farmington is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strafford | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Milton | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| New Durham | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Rochester | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Alton | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Barnstead | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Farmington | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Farmington 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 Farmington
Is Farmington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Farmington has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #112 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Farmington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Farmington since 1979, $79K in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% 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 Farmington 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 Farmington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Farmington’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 Farmington?
By FEMA money that reached Farmington, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 60 households applied for aid, $54K approved, and $432K to the Town of Farmington for repairs. By flood claims, December Nor'easter: 1 paid, $22K.
Is Farmington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Farmington’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Farmington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Farmington’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.