Natural hazards · Plainfield

Plainfield, NH natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Plainfield comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2013. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Plainfield?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Plainfield to be higher than in 65% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding78%Cold waves5%Everything else17%

By hazard

What Plainfield 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 85% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

5% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 35% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Plainfield flood?

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

1paid claims since 2013

$46Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20132026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Sullivan County.

Disasters that hit Plainfield

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into PlainfieldDeclared for Sullivan County only

2023

Severe Storms and Flooding

$62K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2017

Severe Storm and Flooding

$20K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2013

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$61K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$10K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2011

Tropical Storm Irene

$41K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm

$6K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm

$15K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Flooding

$47K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2005

Record Snow

$18K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2005

Record And/Or Near Record Snow

$7K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

2003

Snow

$8K to the Town of Plainfield for repairs

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

Around Plainfield

Plainfield and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Lebanonmostly inland floodingHigh

Granthammostly inland floodingHigh

Plainfieldmostly inland floodingHigh

Cornishmostly inland floodingHigh

Hartlandmostly 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. Plainfield covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Plainfield’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Plainfield. 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 Plainfield total about $1.3M 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.