Natural hazards · Lancaster

Lancaster, NH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Lancaster comes from avalanches, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 11 claims here since 1981. 8 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Lancaster?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Lancaster to be higher than in 86% of U.S. communities, mostly from avalanches and inland flooding.

Avalanches61%Inland flooding29%Cold waves7%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Lancaster faces

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

Avalanches

61% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 0% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Inland flooding

29% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 41% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

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 Lancaster flood?

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

11paid claims since 1981

$102Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19812026

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Lancaster isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Coos County.

Disasters that hit Lancaster

8 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into LancasterDeclared for Coos County only

2024

Severe Storm and Flooding

$1.2M to the Town of Lancaster for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

$24K to the Town of Lancaster for repairs

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

$14K to the Town of Lancaster for repairs

2008

Severe Storms and Flooding

$22K to the Town of Lancaster for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$36K to the Town of Lancaster for repairs

2005

Record Snow

$12K to the Town of Lancaster for repairs

2003

Snow

$8K to the Town of Lancaster for repairs

2001

Snow

$6K to the Town of Lancaster for repairs

Coos County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Lancaster

Lancaster and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Northumberlandmostly avalanchesVery high

Lancastermostly avalanchesVery high

Jeffersonmostly avalanchesHigh

Daltonmostly avalanchesHigh

Guildhallmostly inland floodingModerate

Lunenburgmostly 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. Lancaster covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Lancaster’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Lancaster. 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 Lancaster total about $7.5M 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.