Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Concord as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Concord gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). 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 Concord 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 Concord’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Concord, and Concord’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B− higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Concord’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $497K a year in losses across Concord: $380K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Concord flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Concord. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Concord isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Concord
Disasters that paid out in Concord itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Concord), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides19 households applied for aid$123K aid approved$785K to the Town of Concord for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
Essex County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Concord after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Concord archive →Concord and its neighbors
Concord is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lunenburg | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Concord | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Littleton | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Dalton | — | 916 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Victory | — | 53 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Kirby | — | 756 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 Concord 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 Concord
Is Concord at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Concord has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (7%). 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.
Is Concord 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 Essex County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Concord?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Concord’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 Concord?
By FEMA money that reached Concord, Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 19 households applied for aid, $123K approved, and $785K to the Town of Concord for repairs.
Is Concord at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Concord’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Concord.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Concord’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.