Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Littleton than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Littleton gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #117 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1978.
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 Littleton 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 Littleton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Littleton, and Littleton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #117 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Littleton’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, Littleton has more expected damage per building than 93% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Littleton: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Littleton flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Littleton, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $1K
Littleton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grafton County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Littleton
Disasters that paid out in Littleton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Littleton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm and Flooding$188K to the Town of Littleton for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms and Flooding$213K to the Town of Littleton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$88K to the Town of Littleton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$41K to the Town of Littleton for repairs
- 2003Snow$9K to the Town of Littleton for repairs
- 2001Snow$5K to the Town of Littleton for repairs
Grafton County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Littleton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Littleton archive →Littleton and its neighbors
Littleton is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Barnet | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Concord | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bethlehem | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lisbon | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Littleton | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Dalton | — | 916 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Monroe | — | 786 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 Littleton 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Littleton
Is Littleton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Littleton has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #117 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Littleton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Littleton since 1978, $51K in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Littleton 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 Grafton County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Littleton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Littleton’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 Littleton?
By FEMA money that reached Littleton, Severe Storms and Flooding (2017): $213K to the Town of Littleton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Littleton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Littleton’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Littleton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Littleton’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.