Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Litchfield faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Litchfield gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #57 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then hurricanes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 2 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 Litchfield 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 Litchfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Litchfield, and Litchfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #57 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Litchfield’s 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, Litchfield has less expected damage per building than 55% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Litchfield: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Litchfield flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Litchfield, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Litchfield 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.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Litchfield
Disasters that paid out in Litchfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Litchfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$25K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$7K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$59K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$4K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$18K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
Show all 14
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$48K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$479 aid approved$52K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding35 households applied for aid$69K aid approved$65K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$25K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$21K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$27K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$17K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs
- 2001Snow$13K to the Town of Litchfield 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 Litchfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Litchfield archive →Litchfield and its neighbors
Litchfield is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Nashua | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Litchfield | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Manchester | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Merrimack | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| East Merrimack | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Litchfield 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 Litchfield
Is Litchfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Litchfield has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #57 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and hurricanes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Litchfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Litchfield since 2006, $13K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Litchfield 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 Litchfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Litchfield’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 Litchfield?
By FEMA money that reached Litchfield, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 35 households applied for aid, $69K approved, and $65K to the Town of Litchfield for repairs.
Is Litchfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Litchfield’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Litchfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Litchfield’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.