Natural hazards · Orford

Orford, NH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Orford comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1998. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Orford?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Orford to be higher than in 85% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding89%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Orford faces

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

Inland flooding

89% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 4 times 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 Orford flood?

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

5paid claims since 1998

$97Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19982026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 1 claim, $4K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Grafton County.

Disasters that hit Orford

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OrfordDeclared for Grafton County only

2017

Severe Storms and Flooding

$687K to the Town of Orford for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

7 households applied for aid $7K aid approved $766K to the Town of Orford for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm

$7K to the Town of Orford for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

4 households applied for aid $170 aid approved $21K to the Town of Orford for repairs

2001

Snow

$3K to the Town of Orford for repairs

Grafton County has had 32 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Orford

Orford and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Orfordmostly inland floodingVery high

Wentworthmostly inland floodingVery high

Piermontmostly inland floodingVery high

Lymemostly inland floodingVery high

Fairleemostly inland floodingHigh

Bradfordmostly inland floodingLow

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. Orford covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Orford’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Orford. 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 Orford total about $2.7M 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.