Photo: Fletcher · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Wolfeboro 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, Wolfeboro gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #39 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%), then hurricanes (31%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2005.
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 Wolfeboro 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
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 Wolfeboro’s grade
River and rain flooding is 60% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wolfeboro, and Wolfeboro’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 5%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #39 of 126 in New Hampshire; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wolfeboro’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, Wolfeboro has less expected damage per building than 70% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Wolfeboro: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wolfeboro flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wolfeboro, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Wolfeboro isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Carroll County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wolfeboro
Disasters that paid out in Wolfeboro itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Wolfeboro), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$882K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding$118K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$80K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2017Severe Winter Storm$5K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$35K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
Show all 14
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene2 households applied for aid$47K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornado, and Flooding$77K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$193K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$29K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$14K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$20K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$9K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
- 2003Snow$11K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs
Carroll County has had 28 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 Wolfeboro after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wolfeboro archive →Wolfeboro and its neighbors
Wolfeboro 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfeboro | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Alton | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Tuftonboro | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Ossipee | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Brookfield | — | 567 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 Wolfeboro 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.
- 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 Wolfeboro
Is Wolfeboro at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wolfeboro has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #39 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (60%) and hurricanes (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wolfeboro flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Wolfeboro since 2005, $50K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Wolfeboro 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 Carroll County, 11% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wolfeboro?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wolfeboro’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 Wolfeboro?
By FEMA money that reached Wolfeboro, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): $882K to the Town of Wolfeboro for repairs.
Is Wolfeboro at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (60%), and Wolfeboro’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wolfeboro.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wolfeboro’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.