Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, New Ipswich 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, New Ipswich gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #32 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2008.
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 New Ipswich 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 New Ipswich’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Ipswich, and New Ipswich’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B #32 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Ipswich’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, New Ipswich has less expected damage per building than 75% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across New Ipswich: $800K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Ipswich flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Ipswich, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
New Ipswich 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Ipswich
Disasters that paid out in New Ipswich itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of New Ipswich), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$340K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$122K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$6K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs
Show all 11
- 2005Record Snow$12K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$10K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs
- 2003Snow$6K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs
- 2003Snow$7K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs
- 2001Snow$12K to the Town of New Ipswich 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 New Ipswich after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Ipswich archive →New Ipswich and its neighbors
New Ipswich is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rindge | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mason | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Temple | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | — |
| New Ipswich | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Greenville | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 New Ipswich 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 New Ipswich
Is New Ipswich at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Ipswich has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #32 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and hurricanes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Ipswich flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in New Ipswich since 2008, $955 in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is New Ipswich 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 New Ipswich?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Ipswich’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 New Ipswich?
By FEMA money that reached New Ipswich, Severe Winter Storm (2008): $340K to the Town of New Ipswich for repairs.
Is New Ipswich at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and New Ipswich’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Ipswich.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Ipswich’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.