Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Kensington’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kensington gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). 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 Kensington 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 Kensington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kensington, and Kensington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Kensington’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $558K a year in losses across Kensington: $490K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kensington flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kensington, from FEMA’s records: 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $4K
Kensington 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.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kensington
Disasters that paid out in Kensington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Kensington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$2K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$15K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$26K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
Show all 13
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$60K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$126 aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding17 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$22K to the Town of Kensington for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$9K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$10K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
- 2003Snow$3K to the Town of Kensington for repairs
- 2001Snow$11K to the Town of Kensington 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 Kensington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kensington archive →Kensington and its neighbors
Kensington has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| East Kingston | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hampton Falls | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Exeter | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| South Hampton | — | 984 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 Kensington 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 Kensington
Is Kensington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kensington has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (9%). 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 Kensington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Kensington since 1984, $20K in all, or 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (1).
Is Kensington 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 Kensington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kensington’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 Kensington?
By FEMA money that reached Kensington, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $60K to the Town of Kensington for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $4K.
Is Kensington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Kensington’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kensington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kensington’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.