Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Newmarket than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newmarket gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #90 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 34 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 stands out about Newmarket’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Newmarket 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 Newmarket’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Newmarket, and Newmarket’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C #90 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Newmarket’s residents live in 3 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, Newmarket has more expected damage per building than 71% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Newmarket: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Newmarket flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Newmarket, from FEMA’s records: 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter4 claims · $113K
Newmarket isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockingham County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Newmarket
Disasters that paid out in Newmarket itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Newmarket), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$20K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$5K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$30K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$6K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$25K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$94K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$61K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding40 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$59K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding212 households applied for aid$421K aid approved$264K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$13K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
- 2001Snow$12K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs
Rockingham County has had 29 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 Newmarket after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Newmarket archive →Newmarket and its neighbors
Newmarket 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenland | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Stratham | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Newfields | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Durham | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Lee | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Newmarket | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
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 Newmarket 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 Newmarket
Is Newmarket at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newmarket has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #90 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Newmarket flood?
Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Newmarket since 1987, $855K in all, or 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% 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 (4).
Is Newmarket 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 Rockingham County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Newmarket?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Newmarket’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 Newmarket?
By FEMA money that reached Newmarket, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 212 households applied for aid, $421K approved, and $264K to the Town of Newmarket for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 4 paid, $113K.
Is Newmarket at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Newmarket’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Newmarket.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Newmarket’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.