Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Swanzey than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swanzey gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #114 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Swanzey 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
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 Swanzey’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Swanzey, and Swanzey’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #114 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Swanzey’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, Swanzey has more expected damage per building than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Swanzey: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Swanzey flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Swanzey. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Swanzey isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cheshire County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Swanzey
Disasters that paid out in Swanzey itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Swanzey), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$27K aid approved
Cheshire County has had 27 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.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Cheshire County, 2016–2016.
Old photos of Swanzey after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Swanzey archive →Swanzey and its neighbors
Swanzey is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Chesterfield | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Keene | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 122 |
| Troy | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Marlborough | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Swanzey | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Winchester | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
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 Swanzey 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.
- 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 Swanzey
Is Swanzey at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swanzey has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #114 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Swanzey 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 Cheshire County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Swanzey?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Swanzey’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 Swanzey?
By FEMA money that reached Swanzey, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): 9 households applied for aid, $27K approved.
Is Swanzey at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Swanzey’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Swanzey.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Swanzey’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.