Benjamin James House · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Hampton than in 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hampton gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (70%), then river and rain flooding (25%). Flood insurance has paid 760 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Hampton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hampton faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Coastal flooding
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 Hampton’s grade
Coastal flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hampton, and Hampton’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 25% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
D #126 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hampton’s residents live in 6 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, Hampton has more expected damage per building than 100% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.8M a year in losses across Hampton: $13.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hampton flood? Yes: 760 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hampton, from FEMA’s records: 73.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm103 claims · $1.1M
- The March 2010 nor’easter4 claims · $9K
Hampton 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.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hampton
Disasters that paid out in Hampton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hampton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding$381K to the Town of Hampton for repairs158 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$65K to the Town of Hampton for repairs
- 2018Severe Storm and Flooding$130K to the Town of Hampton for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the Town of Hampton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the Town of Hampton for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$9K to the Town of Hampton for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
Show all 15
- 2011Hurricane Irene$13K to the Town of Hampton for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$17K to the Town of Hampton for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$70K to the Town of Hampton for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$73K to the Town of Hampton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding39 households applied for aid$55K aid approved$79K to the Town of Hampton for repairs59 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding257 households applied for aid$348K aid approved$221K to the Town of Hampton for repairs30 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$35K to the Town of Hampton for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$24K to the Town of Hampton for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Snow$48K to the Town of Hampton 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 Hampton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hampton archive →Hampton and its neighbors
Hampton is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton Falls | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| North Hampton | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Seabrook | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Hampton | Dmore damage than 95% | coastal flooding | 760 |
| Hampton Beach | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Hampton faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Hampton
Is Hampton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hampton has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (70%) and river and rain flooding (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hampton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 760 claims in Hampton since 1978, $15.2M in all, or 73.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 79 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (103).
Is Hampton 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 Hampton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hampton’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 Hampton?
By FEMA money that reached Hampton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 257 households applied for aid, $348K approved, and $221K to the Town of Hampton for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 103 paid, $1.1M.
Is Hampton at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Hampton’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hampton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hampton’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.