Photo: Spongetastic69 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Rye’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 71% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rye gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #85 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%), then coastal flooding (42%). Flood insurance has paid 215 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 stands out about Rye’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rye 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
Coastal 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 Rye’s grade
River and rain flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rye, and Rye’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 42%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C #85 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rye’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, Rye has more expected damage per building than 67% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Rye: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rye flood? Yes: 215 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rye, from FEMA’s records: 73.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm47 claims · $564K
- The March 2010 nor’easter3 claims · $38K
Rye 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 Rye
Disasters that paid out in Rye itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Rye), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding$257K to the Town of Rye for repairs39 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Storm and Flooding$7K to the Town of Rye for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$16K to the Town of Rye for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Town of Rye for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$1K to the Town of Rye for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$25K to the Town of Rye for repairs
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$14K to the Town of Rye for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$15K to the Town of Rye for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$654 aid approved$9K to the Town of Rye for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding63 households applied for aid$101K aid approved$31K to the Town of Rye for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$13K to the Town of Rye for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Snow$12K to the Town of Rye for repairs6 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Snow$24K to the Town of Rye for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
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 Rye after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rye archive →Rye and its neighbors
Rye is 5th of the 5 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 |
| Portsmouth | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Kittery | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| North Hampton | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Rye | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 215 |
| New Castle | — | 827 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 Rye 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Rye
Is Rye at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rye has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #85 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%) and coastal flooding (42%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rye flood?
Flood insurance has paid 215 claims in Rye since 1978, $3.9M in all, or 73.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 17 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (47).
Is Rye 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 Rye?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rye’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 Rye?
By FEMA money that reached Rye, Severe Storms and Flooding (2024): $257K to the Town of Rye for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 47 paid, $564K.
Is Rye at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Rye’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rye.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rye’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.