Fitzwilliam Common Historic District · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Fitzwilliam 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, Fitzwilliam gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #33 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2003.
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 Fitzwilliam 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 Fitzwilliam’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fitzwilliam, and Fitzwilliam’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B #33 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Fitzwilliam’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, Fitzwilliam has less expected damage per building than 74% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $532K a year in losses across Fitzwilliam: $394K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fitzwilliam flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fitzwilliam, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Fitzwilliam isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cheshire County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fitzwilliam
Disasters that paid out in Fitzwilliam itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Fitzwilliam), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Storm and Flooding$99K to the Town of Fitzwilliam for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$91K to the Town of Fitzwilliam for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Town of Fitzwilliam for repairs
- 2003Snow$4K to the Town of Fitzwilliam for repairs
- 2001Snow$7K to the Town of Fitzwilliam for repairs
Cheshire County has had 27 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Cheshire County, 2016–2016.
Old photos of Fitzwilliam after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fitzwilliam archive →Fitzwilliam and its neighbors
Fitzwilliam 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rindge | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Richmond | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fitzwilliam | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Jaffrey | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Troy | C−more damage than 78% | 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 Fitzwilliam 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 Fitzwilliam
Is Fitzwilliam at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fitzwilliam has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #33 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (12%). 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 Fitzwilliam flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Fitzwilliam since 2003, $6K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Fitzwilliam 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 Cheshire County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fitzwilliam?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fitzwilliam’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 Fitzwilliam?
By FEMA money that reached Fitzwilliam, Severe Storm and Flooding (2021): $99K to the Town of Fitzwilliam for repairs.
Is Fitzwilliam at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Fitzwilliam’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fitzwilliam.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fitzwilliam’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.