Photo: Jon Platek · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Rochester as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rochester gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #36 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1998.
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 Rochester 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 Rochester’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rochester, and Rochester’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B #36 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rochester’s residents live in 8 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, Rochester has less expected damage per building than 72% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.2M a year in losses across Rochester: $6.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rochester flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rochester, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March 2010 nor’easter2 claims · $3K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $18K
Rochester isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Strafford County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rochester
Disasters that paid out in Rochester itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rochester), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$85K to the City of Rochester for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$141K to the City of Rochester for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$84K to the City of Rochester for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$21K to the City of Rochester for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$28K to the City of Rochester for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$41K to the City of Rochester for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 12
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$76K to the City of Rochester for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding81 households applied for aid$116K aid approved$320K to the City of Rochester for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding180 households applied for aid$265K aid approved$548K to the City of Rochester for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$53K to the City of Rochester for repairs
- 2003Snow$33K to the City of Rochester for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2001Snow$47K to the City of Rochester for repairs
Strafford County has had 20 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 Rochester after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rochester archive →Rochester and its neighbors
Rochester is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Strafford | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Berwick | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Rochester | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Dover | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Barrington | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Farmington | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Rochester 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 Rochester
Is Rochester at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rochester has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #36 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rochester flood?
Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Rochester since 1998, $99K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (2).
Is Rochester 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 Strafford County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rochester?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rochester’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 Rochester?
By FEMA money that reached Rochester, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 180 households applied for aid, $265K approved, and $548K to the City of Rochester for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $3K.
Is Rochester at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Rochester’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rochester.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rochester’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.