Natural hazards · Alstead

Alstead, NH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Alstead comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1987. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Alstead?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Alstead to be higher than in 67% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding78%Everything else23%

By hazard

What Alstead faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

78% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 86% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Alstead flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Alstead, from FEMA’s records.

8paid claims since 1987

$347Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19872026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Alstead 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.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

26flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Alstead

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Alstead itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Alstead.

Brought FEMA money into AlsteadDeclared for Cheshire County only

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

$366K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

2021

Severe Storm and Flooding

$415K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

2013

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$69K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$6K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm

$40K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

98 households applied for aid $372K aid approved $558K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

2005

Record Snow

$16K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

2005

Record And/Or Near Record Snow

$8K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

2003

Snow

$13K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

2001

Snow

$8K to the Town of Alstead for repairs

Cheshire County has had 27 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Alstead

Alstead and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Alsteadmostly inland floodingHigh

Gilsummostly inland floodingHigh

Marlowmostly inland floodingHigh

Surrymostly inland floodingHigh

Langdonmostly inland floodingHigh

Acworthmostly inland floodingHigh

Walpolemostly inland floodingModerate

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Alstead covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Alstead’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Alstead. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Alstead total about $1.4M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.