Photo: Jon Platek · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Keene’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Keene gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #96 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 122 claims here since 1981.
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 Keene’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Keene 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 Keene’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Keene, and Keene’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #96 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Keene’s residents live in 5 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, Keene has more expected damage per building than 76% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.7M a year in losses across Keene: $8.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Keene flood? Yes: 122 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Keene, from FEMA’s records: 11.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Keene is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Cheshire County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Keene
Disasters that paid out in Keene itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Keene), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Storm and Flooding$127K to the City of Keene for repairs
- 2021Severe Storm and Flooding$111K to the City of Keene for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$44K to the City of Keene for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Severe Storm and Flooding$835K to the City of Keene for repairs29 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the City of Keene for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding227 households applied for aid$238K aid approved$482K to the City of Keene for repairs
Show all 13
- 2005Record Snow$20K to the City of Keene for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$13K to the City of Keene for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$28K to the City of Keene for repairs
- 2003Snow$27K to the City of Keene for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms and Flooding$41K to the City of Keene for repairs
- 2003Snow$17K to the City of Keene for repairs
- 2001Snow$23K to the City of Keene for repairs
Cheshire County has had 27 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Cheshire County, 2016–2016.
Old photos of Keene after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Keene archive →Keene and its neighbors
Keene is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Keene | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 122 |
| Marlborough | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Swanzey | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Roxbury | — | 299 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Sullivan | — | 687 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Surry | — | not graded yet | |
| Gilsum | — | 716 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 Keene 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.
- Keene residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Keene
Is Keene at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Keene has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #96 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Keene flood?
Flood insurance has paid 122 claims in Keene since 1981, $5.6M in all, or 11.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Keene 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 Cheshire County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Keene?
Keene is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Keene?
By FEMA money that reached Keene, Severe Storm and Flooding (2012): $835K to the City of Keene for repairs.
Is Keene at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Keene’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Keene.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Keene’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.