Hall Memorial Library · Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Northfield’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Northfield gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #116 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Northfield 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 Northfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Northfield, and Northfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D #116 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Northfield’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Northfield has more expected damage per building than 92% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Northfield: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Northfield flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Northfield. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Northfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Merrimack County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Northfield
Disasters that paid out in Northfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Northfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of Northfield for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$2K to the Town of Northfield for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$17K to the Town of Northfield for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$91K to the Town of Northfield for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$7K to the Town of Northfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$11K to the Town of Northfield for repairs
Show all 7
- 2001Snow$9K to the Town of Northfield for repairs
Merrimack County has had 24 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 Northfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Northfield archive →Northfield and its neighbors
Northfield 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Boscawen | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Tilton | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Franklin | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Belmont | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Northfield | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Tilton Northfield | — | 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 Northfield 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 Northfield
Is Northfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Northfield has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #116 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Northfield 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 Merrimack County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Northfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Northfield’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 Northfield?
By FEMA money that reached Northfield, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): 5 households applied for aid, $5K approved, and $91K to the Town of Northfield for repairs.
Is Northfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Northfield’s rate for it is in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Northfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Northfield’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.