Nichols, Marion, Summer Home · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hollis as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hollis gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #38 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then hurricanes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 Hollis 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 Hollis’ grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hollis, and Hollis’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B #38 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hollis’ residents live in 2 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, Hollis has less expected damage per building than 70% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Hollis: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hollis flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hollis, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hollis 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hollis
Disasters that paid out in Hollis itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Hollis), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Town of Hollis for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Town of Hollis for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$6K to the Town of Hollis for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$105K to the Town of Hollis for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$5K to the Town of Hollis for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$92K to the Town of Hollis for repairs
Show all 9
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$117K to the Town of Hollis for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$25K to the Town of Hollis for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$18K to the Town of Hollis for repairs
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.
Old photos of Hollis after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hollis archive →Hollis and its neighbors
Hollis is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperell | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Hollis | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Amherst | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Nashua | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Brookline | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Milford | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Merrimack | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
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 Hollis 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 Hollis
Is Hollis at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hollis has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #38 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and hurricanes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hollis flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Hollis since 2006, $2K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hollis 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 Hollis?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hollis’ 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 Hollis?
By FEMA money that reached Hollis, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 12 households applied for aid, $12K approved, and $117K to the Town of Hollis for repairs.
Is Hollis at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Hollis’ rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hollis.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hollis’ 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.