Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Stratham than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stratham gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #13 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 Stratham 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
Earthquakes
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 Stratham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Stratham, and Stratham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #13 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Stratham’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Stratham has less expected damage per building than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Stratham: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Stratham flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2006
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Stratham, 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’easter1 claim · $12K
Stratham 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Stratham
Disasters that paid out in Stratham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Stratham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Town of Stratham for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Town of Stratham for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Town of Stratham for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$2K to the Town of Stratham for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$11K to the Town of Stratham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$61K to the Town of Stratham for repairs
Show all 12
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding87 households applied for aid$165K aid approved$16K to the Town of Stratham for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$23K to the Town of Stratham for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$17K to the Town of Stratham for repairs
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Stratham for repairs
- 2001Snow$19K to the Town of Stratham for repairs
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 Stratham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Stratham archive →Stratham and its neighbors
Stratham is 2nd of the 6 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 |
| Stratham | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Newfields | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| North Hampton | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Exeter | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Newmarket | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
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 Stratham 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Stratham
Is Stratham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Stratham has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #13 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (10%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Stratham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Stratham since 2006, $22K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (1).
Is Stratham 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 Stratham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Stratham’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 Stratham?
By FEMA money that reached Stratham, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 87 households applied for aid, $165K approved, and $16K to the Town of Stratham for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $12K.
Is Stratham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Stratham’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Stratham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Stratham’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.