Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Haverhill than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haverhill gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #87 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1984.
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 Haverhill 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 Haverhill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Haverhill, and Haverhill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C #87 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Haverhill’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, Haverhill has more expected damage per building than 69% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Haverhill: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Haverhill flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Haverhill, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $8K
Haverhill isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grafton County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Haverhill
Disasters that paid out in Haverhill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Haverhill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$150K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding$39K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$6K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms and Flooding$660K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene1 households applied for aid$7K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$10K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
Show all 13
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$11K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$13K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$9K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$3K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2003Snow$11K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
- 2001Snow$5K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs
Grafton County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Haverhill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Haverhill archive →Haverhill and its neighbors
Haverhill is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newbury | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Haverhill | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Bath | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Newbury | — | 393 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| North Haverhill | — | 728 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Wells River | — | 340 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Piermont | — | 868 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Woodsville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Benton | — | 386 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Warren | — | 942 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 Haverhill 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 Haverhill
Is Haverhill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haverhill has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #87 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). 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 Haverhill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Haverhill since 1984, $69K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from December Nor'easter (1).
Is Haverhill 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 Grafton County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Haverhill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Haverhill’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 Haverhill?
By FEMA money that reached Haverhill, Severe Storms and Flooding (2017): $660K to the Town of Haverhill for repairs. By flood claims, December Nor'easter: 1 paid, $8K.
Is Haverhill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Haverhill’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Haverhill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Haverhill’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.