Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Plymouth than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plymouth gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #86 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1978.
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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plymouth, and Plymouth’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
C #86 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plymouth’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, Plymouth has more expected damage per building than 68% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Plymouth: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plymouth flood? Sometimes: 11 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plymouth, from FEMA’s records: 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $19K
Plymouth isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Grafton County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Plymouth
Disasters that paid out in Plymouth itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Plymouth), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding$165K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene14 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$59K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $19K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$24K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$39K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$41K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$13K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs
Show all 10
- 2005Record Snow$5K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$6K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs
- 2003Snow$8K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2001Snow$5K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs
Grafton County has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Plymouth after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plymouth archive →Plymouth and its neighbors
Plymouth has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Holderness | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 75 |
| Rumney | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bridgewater | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Campton | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Ashland | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Groton | — | 507 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Hebron | — | 883 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth
Is Plymouth at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plymouth has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #86 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plymouth flood?
Flood insurance has paid 11 claims in Plymouth since 1978, $60K in all, or 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Plymouth 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 Grafton County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Plymouth?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plymouth’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 Plymouth?
By FEMA money that reached Plymouth, Severe Storm and Flooding (2022): $165K to the Town of Plymouth for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $19K.
Is Plymouth at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Plymouth’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plymouth.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plymouth’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.