Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Greenland faces less hazard damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenland gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #2 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 2006.
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 Greenland 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
Earthquakes
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 Greenland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenland, and Greenland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #2 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Greenland’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, Greenland has less expected damage per building than 99% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Greenland: $975K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenland flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenland, from FEMA’s records: 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $52K
Greenland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockingham County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Greenland
Disasters that paid out in Greenland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Greenland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
- 2018Severe Storm and Flooding$12K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$35K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$29K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$8K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$30K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
Show all 14
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$37K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$62K to the Town of Greenland for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$21K to the Town of Greenland for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding35 households applied for aid$62K aid approved$14K to the Town of Greenland for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$22K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$18K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
- 2003Snow$8K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
- 2001Snow$13K to the Town of Greenland for repairs
Rockingham County has had 29 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 Greenland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenland archive →Greenland and its neighbors
Greenland has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenland | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Stratham | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Portsmouth | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| North Hampton | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Rye | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 215 |
| Newmarket | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Newington | — | 939 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Greenland 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Greenland
Is Greenland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenland has lower expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #2 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) 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 Greenland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Greenland since 2006, $290K in all, or 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (2).
Is Greenland 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 Rockingham County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Greenland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenland’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 Greenland?
By FEMA money that reached Greenland, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 35 households applied for aid, $62K approved, and $14K to the Town of Greenland for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $52K.
Is Greenland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Greenland’s rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenland’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.