Somoresworth High School · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Somersworth’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somersworth gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #14 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then earthquakes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2006.
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 Somersworth 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
Earthquakes
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 Somersworth’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Somersworth, and Somersworth’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 5%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #14 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Somersworth’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, Somersworth has less expected damage per building than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Somersworth: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Somersworth flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Somersworth, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Somersworth 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Somersworth
Disasters that paid out in Somersworth itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Somersworth), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$36K to the City of Somersworth for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$53K to the City of Somersworth for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$44K to the City of Somersworth for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$40K to the City of Somersworth for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$29K to the City of Somersworth for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$45K to the City of Somersworth for repairs
Show all 11
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$184K to the City of Somersworth for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding53 households applied for aid$85K aid approved$50K to the City of Somersworth for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$15K to the City of Somersworth for repairs
- 2003Snow$7K to the City of Somersworth for repairs
- 2001Snow$16K to the City of Somersworth 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 Somersworth after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Somersworth archive →Somersworth and its neighbors
Somersworth has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somersworth | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Rollinsford | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Berwick | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Dover | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
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 Somersworth 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Somersworth
Is Somersworth at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somersworth has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #14 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and earthquakes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Somersworth flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Somersworth since 2006, $257K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Somersworth 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 Somersworth?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Somersworth’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 Somersworth?
By FEMA money that reached Somersworth, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 21 households applied for aid, $25K approved, and $184K to the City of Somersworth for repairs.
Is Somersworth at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Somersworth’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Somersworth.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Somersworth’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.