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Salem Common Historic DistrictSalem Common Historic District · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Salem · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Salem faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salem gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #34 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 106 claims here since 1987.

River and rain flooding 80%Earthquakes 9%Hurricanes 6%

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

less than 57%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#34 of 126 in New Hampshire
Hazard risk
B#34 of 126
in New Hampshire · lower than 57% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
80% of expected building damage
Flood claims
106
paid since 1987 · $2.5M
Flooded more than once
11
properties · 2 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
17
of 29 declared for Rockingham County

What stands out about Salem’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

106 paid flood claims since 1987$2.5M in all; 11 properties flooded more than once.Moved out of harm’s way52 flood-prone properties bought out and cleared with FEMA grants.Remembers 200652 flood claims were paid for 2006 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Salem 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

80%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

9%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts

Hurricanes

6%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 8 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms Tornadoes Strong wind Lightning Hail Wildfire Winter storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Salem’s grade

River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Salem, and Salem’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Salem sits
Salem
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #34 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Salem’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding80%Earthquakes9%Hurricanes6%Everything else4%

The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Salem has less expected damage per building than 74% of New Hampshire towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.5M a year in losses across Salem: $6.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Salem covers 6 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Salem flood? Yes: 106 flood claims since 1987

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Salem, from FEMA’s records: 7.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1987: 5 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 1 claim1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 14 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 9 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 2 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 6 claims2005: 2 claims2006: 52 claims2007: 3 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 12 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199620062010
19872026
Biggest named events
  • The March 2010 nor’easter10 claims · $149K
106
paid claims since 1987
$2.5M
paid to owners
11
homes flooded more than once
$23K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Salem 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.
What’s been done with FEMA grants
52flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters

17 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Salem

Disasters that paid out in Salem itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Salem), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2024Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$54K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  2. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$179K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  3. 2018Severe Storm and Flooding$62K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  4. 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$94K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  5. 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$111K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  6. 2012Hurricane Sandy$22K to the Town of Salem for repairs
Show all 17
  1. 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$48K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  2. 2011Hurricane Irene$12K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$155K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  4. 2010Severe Winter Storm$167K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  5. 2008Severe Winter Storm$256K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  6. 2007Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$59K to the Town of Salem for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
  7. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding400 households applied for aid$828K aid approved$365K to the Town of Salem for repairs52 flood claims paid that year
  8. 2005Record Snow$65K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  9. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$110K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  10. 2003Snow$70K to the Town of Salem for repairs
  11. 2001Snow$137K to the Town of Salem for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in SalemRockingham County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Salem after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Salem archive →
Next door

Salem and its neighbors

Salem is 4th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Windham: hazard risk B+Atkinson: hazard risk A−Pelham: hazard risk CMethuen: hazard risk BDerry: hazard risk BWindhamAtkinsonPelhamMethuenDerrySalem
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
AtkinsonA−less damage than 81%river and rain flooding1
WindhamB+less damage than 72%river and rain flooding4
MethuenBless damage than 63%river and rain flooding96
SalemBless damage than 57%river and rain flooding106
DerryBless damage than 55%river and rain flooding27
PelhamCmore damage than 68%river and rain flooding24

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Salem faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Salem

Is Salem at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Salem has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #34 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Salem flood?

Flood insurance has paid 106 claims in Salem since 1987, $2.5M in all, or 7.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (10).

Is Salem 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 Salem?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Salem’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 Salem?

By FEMA money that reached Salem, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 400 households applied for aid, $828K approved, and $365K to the Town of Salem for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 10 paid, $149K.

Is Salem at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Salem’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Salem.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Salem’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.