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Kingston Town HallPhoto: Laperkins · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Kingston · FEMA

FEMA puts Kingston’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kingston gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #8 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 2001.

River and rain flooding 78%Earthquakes 9%Hurricanes 8%

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

less than 79%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#8 of 126 in New Hampshire
Hazard risk
A−#8 of 126
in New Hampshire · lower than 79% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
78% of expected building damage
Flood claims
8
paid since 2001 · $109K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
16
of 29 declared for Rockingham County
By hazard

What Kingston 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

78%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

9%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts

Hurricanes

8%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 8 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms Tornadoes Strong wind Lightning Wildfire Hail Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Kingston’s grade

River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kingston, and Kingston’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Kingston sits
Kingston
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #8 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Kingston’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding78%Earthquakes9%Hurricanes8%Everything else5%

The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Kingston has less expected damage per building than 94% of New Hampshire towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Kingston: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Kingston’s 6,202 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract. FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Kingston flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 2001

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kingston, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2001: 1 claim2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 4 claims2007: 1 claim2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 2 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200120062010
20012026
Biggest named events
  • The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $31K
8
paid claims since 2001
$109K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$14K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Kingston 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.
Disasters

16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kingston

Disasters that paid out in Kingston itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Kingston), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$61K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  2. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$39K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  3. 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$32K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  4. 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  5. 2012Hurricane Sandy$11K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  6. 2012Hurricane Sandy$12K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
Show all 16
  1. 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$35K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  2. 2011Hurricane Irene$7K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$16K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  4. 2010Severe Winter Storm$80K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  5. 2008Severe Winter Storm$158K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  6. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$18K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  7. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding45 households applied for aid$70K aid approved$38K to the Town of Kingston for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
  8. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$19K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  9. 2003Snow$17K to the Town of Kingston for repairs
  10. 2001Snow$24K to the Town of Kingston for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in KingstonRockingham County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Kingston after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Kingston archive →
Next door

Kingston and its neighbors

Kingston is 3rd of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Exeter: hazard risk B−Danville: hazard risk A−East Kingston: hazard risk B+Newton: hazard risk APlaistow: hazard risk A−Brentwood: hazard risk BHampstead: hazard risk AExeterDanvilleEast KingstonNewtonPlaistowBrentwoodHampsteadKingston
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
HampsteadAless damage than 86%river and rain flooding8
NewtonAless damage than 86%river and rain flooding—
KingstonA−less damage than 79%river and rain flooding8
DanvilleA−less damage than 78%river and rain flooding1
PlaistowA−less damage than 77%river and rain flooding1
East KingstonB+less damage than 70%river and rain flooding1
BrentwoodBless damage than 65%river and rain flooding9
ExeterB−less damage than 50%river and rain flooding72

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Kingston faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Kingston

Is Kingston at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kingston has lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #8 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (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 Kingston flood?

Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Kingston since 2001, $109K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (2).

Is Kingston 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 Kingston?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kingston’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 Kingston?

By FEMA money that reached Kingston, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $158K to the Town of Kingston for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $31K.

Is Kingston at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Kingston’s rate for it is lower than 61% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kingston.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kingston’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.