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FrancestownNH TownHallPhoto: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
CHazard risk
Natural hazards in Francestown · FEMA

FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Francestown than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Francestown gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1987.

River and rain flooding 82%Hurricanes 11%Tornadoes 3%

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

more than 66%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
C
in New Hampshire · higher than 66% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
82% of expected building damage
Flood claims
11
paid since 1987 · $214K
Disasters paid out here
14
of 26 declared for Hillsborough County
By hazard

What Francestown 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

82%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

11%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 10 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Earthquakes Ice storms Landslides top 2% Strong wind Wildfire Winter storms Lightning Hail Cold waves Heat waves
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Francestown’s grade

River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Francestown, and Francestown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Francestown sits
Francestown
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Francestown’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding82%Hurricanes11%Everything else7%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $514K a year in losses across Francestown: $451K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Francestown’s 1,610 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract, which it shares with Deering town (1,904 residents) and Bennington town (1,501 residents) and Bennington CDP (338 residents) and Francestown CDP (201 residents). FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s, the same for all of them. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Francestown flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1987

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Francestown, from FEMA’s records: 15.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 2 claims2005: 1 claim2006: 0 claims2007: 6 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198720042007
19872026
11
paid claims since 1987
$214K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$19K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Francestown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Hillsborough County.
Disasters

14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Francestown

Disasters that paid out in Francestown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Francestown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$12K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  2. 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$16K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  3. 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  4. 2011Hurricane Irene$6K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  5. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$17K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  6. 2008Severe Winter Storm$30K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
Show all 14
  1. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$230K to the Town of Francestown for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
  2. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$19K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  3. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$6K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  4. 2005Record Snow$11K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  5. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$12K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  6. 2003Snow$9K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  7. 2003Snow$9K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
  8. 2001Snow$11K to the Town of Francestown for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in FrancestownHillsborough County only

Hillsborough County has had 26 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Francestown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Francestown archive →
Next door

Francestown and its neighbors

Francestown is 5th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Bennington: hazard risk CGreenfield: hazard risk B+New Boston: hazard risk CDeering: hazard risk CWeare: hazard risk CBenningtonGreenfieldNew BostonDeeringWeareFrancestown
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
GreenfieldB+less damage than 74%river and rain flooding1
BenningtonCmore damage than 66%river and rain flooding7
DeeringCmore damage than 66%river and rain flooding6
WeareCmore damage than 66%river and rain flooding7
FrancestownCmore damage than 66%river and rain flooding11
New BostonCmore damage than 67%river and rain flooding7

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Francestown faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Francestown

Is Francestown at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Francestown has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (11%). 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 Francestown flood?

Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Francestown since 1987, $214K in all, or 15.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Is Francestown 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 Hillsborough County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Francestown?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Francestown’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 Francestown?

By FEMA money that reached Francestown, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 3 households applied for aid, $9K approved, and $230K to the Town of Francestown for repairs.

Is Francestown at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Francestown’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Francestown.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Francestown’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.