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Carroll County, New Hampshire

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
6th of 10highest risk in New Hampshire
$31Mexpected losses a year
34federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Carroll County, New Hampshire has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 71% of US counties. It ranks 6th of 10 counties in New Hampshire. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $31 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $620 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (severe storm and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (272 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.8 million on 290 claims here, including $882,000 for floods in 2011.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Carroll County

$22.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Hurricane

Moderate
$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$800,057 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate82.0
$23M
HurricaneModerate86.4
$5M
Cold waveLow44.0
$800K
Ice stormHigh86.7
$712K
EarthquakeLow62.8
$560K
LightningModerate67.0
$467K
Winter weatherHigh89.8
$423K
TornadoVery Low18.9
$227K
Strong windLow22.5
$219K
Heat waveVery Low34.2
$179K
HailVery Low11.6
$39K
WildfireVery Low33.6
$19K
LandslideLow80.2
$17K
AvalancheLow67.7
$4K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Carroll County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood6
Hurricane6
Snowstorm6
Severe Ice Storm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Oct 7, 2026Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 10, 2024Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 27, 2024Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 2023Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2018Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2018Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 1, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2013Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Nov 28, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Show all 34
Oct 30, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Nov 1, 2011Severe StormEmergency
Sep 3, 2011Tropical Storm IreneMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Jan 2, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Dec 13, 2008Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 5, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 11, 2008Severe Storms, Tornado, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 25, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 28, 2005Record SnowEmergency
Mar 30, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Mar 30, 2005Record SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 2004SnowEmergency
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1998Severe Ice Storm, Rains and High WindsMajor disaster
Jan 3, 1996Excessive Rainfall, High Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Blizzards, High Winds & Record SnowfallEmergency
Sep 9, 1991Hurricane Bob & Severe StormsMajor disaster
Aug 29, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1974Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

New Hampshire also had 1 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1963

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 430 storm reports in Carroll County since 1963, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $17.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF2 tornado on July 24, 2008 near South Wolfeboro.

10tornadoes
92hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
200damaging thunderstorm winds
104floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 24, 2008EF2South Wolfeboro0 / 0
Jul 18, 1963F2–0 / 0
Aug 7, 1986F1–0 / 0
Aug 7, 1986F1–0 / 0
Aug 9, 1972F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 26, 1994Thunderstorm Wind–$5M
Aug 7, 1986Tornado–$3M
Aug 28, 2011Flash FloodBartlett$2M
Apr 16, 2007FloodConway$1M
Jun 14, 1998Flash FloodCountywide$550K
Aug 28, 2011FloodConway$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1858, 3 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Carroll County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1869, with top winds near 105 mph about 63 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
12tropical storms
1985most recent: Gloria

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 4, 1869UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph63 mi
Sep 9, 1869UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph34 mi
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 1, 75 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph35 mi
Sep 30, 1874UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Sep 16, 1858UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph31 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 1, 75 mph63 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 55 mph57 mi
Sep 13, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph35 mi
Jul 30, 1960BrendaTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Oct 19, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph49 mi
Sep 24, 1897UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph64 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Carroll County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (272 policies)
10.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.8 millionpaid on 290 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $882,219 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Carroll County

$388,900median home value (New Hampshire $402,500, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (New Hampshire 1979, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.2%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 40,421 housing units.

Compare in New Hampshire

All 10 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Hillsborough CountyModerateInland flooding
Rockingham CountyModerateInland flooding
Merrimack CountyLowInland flooding
Strafford CountyLowInland flooding
Grafton CountyModerateInland flooding
Cheshire CountyLowInland flooding
Belknap CountyLowInland flooding
Carroll CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
York County, MEModerate38
Strafford CountyLow23
Grafton CountyModerate38
Belknap CountyLow28
Oxford County, MELow35
Coos CountyLow26

Common questions about Carroll County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Carroll County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Carroll County, about $22.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $4.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Carroll County had?

Carroll County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm and Flooding in October 2026.

Is Carroll County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 6th highest of 10 in New Hampshire. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Carroll County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Carroll County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Carroll County had?

NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Carroll County since 1950. The strongest was an EF2 tornado on July 24, 2008 near South Wolfeboro. The weather service has also logged 92 hail reports and 104 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Carroll County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Carroll County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1869, with winds near 105 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.