New Hampshire natural disasters & FEMA declarations
NH · 35th most declarations of 51 states/DC
New Hampshire has had 63 federally declared disasters since 1953, the 35th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (27 declarations, about 43% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storm And Flooding" (Severe Storm), on Aug 20, 2024.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for New Hampshire, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 27 | 43% |
| Flood | 12 | 19% |
| Snowstorm | 8 | 13% |
| Hurricane | 7 | 11% |
| Coastal Storm | 3 | 5% |
| Biological | 2 | 3% |
| Fire | 2 | 3% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 2% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 1 | 2% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 48 |
| Emergency (EM) | 14 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 1 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How New Hampshire's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 2 |
| 1990s | 8 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 20 |
| 2020s | 10 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2024 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4812-NH |
| Jul 10, 2024 | Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Winter Storm | DR-4799-NH |
| Apr 19, 2024 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4771-NH |
| Feb 27, 2024 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4761-NH |
| Sep 14, 2023 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | DR-4740-NH |
| Mar 15, 2023 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4693-NH |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near New Hampshire
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to New Hampshire in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has New Hampshire had?
New Hampshire has had 63 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1953, the 35th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in New Hampshire?
The most common federally declared disaster type in New Hampshire is "Severe Storm", with 27 declarations — about 43% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in New Hampshire?
The most recent FEMA declaration in New Hampshire in this snapshot was "Severe Storm And Flooding" (Severe Storm), declared Aug 20, 2024.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18