Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Northwood than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Northwood gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #5 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2007.
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 Northwood 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 Northwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Northwood, and Northwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A #5 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Northwood’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, Northwood has less expected damage per building than 97% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $999K a year in losses across Northwood: $864K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Northwood flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2007
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Northwood, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Northwood 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Northwood
Disasters that paid out in Northwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Northwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of Northwood for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Town of Northwood for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Northwood for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$17K to the Town of Northwood for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$12K to the Town of Northwood for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$27K to the Town of Northwood for repairs
Show all 11
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornado, and Flooding$4K to the Town of Northwood for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding18 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$79K to the Town of Northwood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$17K to the Town of Northwood for repairs
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Northwood for repairs
- 2001Snow$13K to the Town of Northwood 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 Northwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Northwood archive →Northwood and its neighbors
Northwood has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwood | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Strafford | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Deerfield | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Nottingham | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Pittsfield | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
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 Northwood 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 Northwood
Is Northwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Northwood has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #5 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (8%). 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.
Does Northwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Northwood since 2007, $11K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Northwood 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 Northwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Northwood’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 Northwood?
By FEMA money that reached Northwood, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 18 households applied for aid, $35K approved, and $79K to the Town of Northwood for repairs.
Is Northwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Northwood’s rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Northwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Northwood’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.