riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Cheshire County Disaster Risk

Cheshire County, New Hampshire

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

60th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#8

of 10 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

75th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 75% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 58% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Cheshire County

Risk Verdict

Cheshire County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 60th 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 Cheshire County, scoring in the 76th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 75th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (58th), tornado (44th), wildfire (24th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Cheshire 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

Cheshire County is notably safer than the average county in New Hampshire. Its composite risk score is 9.4 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

Is your home insured against Cheshire County's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

High flood risk area

Learn about NFIP flood insurance coverage for your property.

Learn More →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Cheshire County, NH?
Cheshire County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 60th 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 Cheshire County?
Cheshire County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (76th percentile), flooding (75th percentile), earthquake (58th percentile), tornado (44th percentile), wildfire (24th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 76th 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 Cheshire County risk compare to the New Hampshire average?
Cheshire County's composite risk percentile is 60th, compared to the New Hampshire state average of 70th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Cheshire County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in New Hampshire.
Is Cheshire County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Cheshire County's hurricane risk is at the 76th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Cheshire County is at the 75th 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 Cheshire County a safe place to live?
Cheshire County's composite risk score of 60th 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 76th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Belknap County

New Hampshire

-3.1

Relatively Low

57th percentile

Strafford County

New Hampshire

+3.6

Relatively Low

64th percentile

Carroll County

New Hampshire

+10.5

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.

Explore more data for Cheshire County

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score