Photo: Jon Platek · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Nashua 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, Nashua gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #55 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then hurricanes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 40 claims here since 1982.
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 stands out about Nashua’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Nashua 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 Nashua’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nashua, and Nashua’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #55 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nashua’s residents live in 20 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, Nashua has less expected damage per building than 57% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $23.7M a year in losses across Nashua: $20.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nashua flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nashua, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter7 claims · $145K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $7K
Nashua is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Hillsborough County.16 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Nashua
Disasters that paid out in Nashua itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Nashua), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$241K to the City of Nashua for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$325K to the City of Nashua for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$68K to the City of Nashua for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$647K to the City of Nashua for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$16K to the City of Nashua for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to the City of Nashua for repairs
Show all 16
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$121K to the City of Nashua for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$225K to the City of Nashua for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding23 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$15K to the City of Nashua for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding86 households applied for aid$142K aid approved$42K to the City of Nashua for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2005Record Snow$108K to the City of Nashua for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$124K to the City of Nashua for repairs
- 2003Snow$137K to the City of Nashua for repairs
- 2003Snow$104K to the City of Nashua for repairs
- 2001Snow$112K to the City of Nashua 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 Nashua after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nashua archive →Nashua and its neighbors
Nashua is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunstable | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hollis | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| 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 |
| Merrimack | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
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 Nashua 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.
- Nashua residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Nashua
Is Nashua at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nashua has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #55 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and hurricanes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Nashua flood?
Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Nashua since 1982, $531K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (7).
Is Nashua 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 Nashua?
Nashua is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Nashua?
By FEMA money that reached Nashua, Severe Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $647K to the City of Nashua for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 7 paid, $145K.
Is Nashua at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Nashua’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nashua.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nashua’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.