riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Belknap County Disaster Risk

Belknap County, New Hampshire

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

57th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#9

of 10 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

70th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 70% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 25% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Belknap County

Risk Verdict

Belknap County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 57th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Belknap County, scoring in the 78th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 70th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (60th), tornado (31th), wildfire (25th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Belknap County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Belknap County is notably safer than the average county in New Hampshire. Its composite risk score is 12.5 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Belknap County, NH?
Belknap County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 57th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Belknap County?
Belknap County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (78th percentile), flooding (70th percentile), earthquake (60th percentile), tornado (31th percentile), wildfire (25th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 78th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Belknap County risk compare to the New Hampshire average?
Belknap County's composite risk percentile is 57th, compared to the New Hampshire state average of 70th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Belknap County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in New Hampshire.
Is Belknap County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Belknap County's hurricane risk is at the 78th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Belknap County is at the 70th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Belknap County a safe place to live?
Belknap County's composite risk score of 57th percentile is below the New Hampshire state average of 70th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 78th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Cheshire County

New Hampshire

+3.1

Relatively Low

60th percentile

Strafford County

New Hampshire

+6.7

Relatively Low

64th percentile

Carroll County

New Hampshire

+13.6

Relatively Low

71th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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