Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Manchester 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, Manchester gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #66 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then hurricanes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 41 claims here since 1987.
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 Manchester 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 Manchester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Manchester, and Manchester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #66 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Manchester’s residents live in 29 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, Manchester has more expected damage per building than 52% of New Hampshire towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Manchester has lower expected damage per building than 51% (#198 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $32.8M, is the 340th largest of those 400.
Does Manchester flood? Sometimes: 41 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Manchester, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Manchester 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.17 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Manchester
Disasters that paid out in Manchester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Manchester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$835K to the City of Manchester for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$134K to the City of Manchester for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$181K to the City of Manchester for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$7K to the City of Manchester for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$321K to the City of Manchester for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$24K to the City of Manchester for repairs
Show all 17
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$274K to the City of Manchester for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$12K to the City of Manchester for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$513K to the City of Manchester for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding34 households applied for aid$26K aid approved$558K to the City of Manchester for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding525 households applied for aid$628K aid approved$1.1M to the City of Manchester for repairs25 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2005Record Snow$92K to the City of Manchester for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$105K to the City of Manchester for repairs
- 2003Snow$99K to the City of Manchester for repairs
- 2003Snow$95K to the City of Manchester for repairs
- 2001Snow$112K to the City of Manchester 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 Manchester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Manchester archive →Manchester and its neighbors
Manchester is 7th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Londonderry | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Bedford | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Hooksett | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Auburn | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Goffstown | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 119 |
| 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 |
| South Hooksett | — | 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 Manchester 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 Manchester
Is Manchester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Manchester has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #66 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and hurricanes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Manchester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 41 claims in Manchester since 1987, $1.3M in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Manchester 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 Manchester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Manchester’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 Manchester?
By FEMA money that reached Manchester, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 525 households applied for aid, $628K approved, and $1.1M to the City of Manchester for repairs.
Is Manchester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Manchester’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Manchester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Manchester’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.