Natural Disaster Risk in Franconia

Natural Hazard Profile: Franconia, New Hampshire

Franconia, in Grafton County, is a small community of about 1,402 situated along the northeastern Atlantic Seaboard. Its humid continental climate brings long, cold winters and brief, warm summers, and in particular heavy nor'easter snowstorms. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Franconia residents and property owners must navigate.

Franconia's overall natural disaster risk is rated 6.2/10 (High) by FEMA's National Risk Index. The area faces significant landslide risk, where mountainous topography and saturated soils during wet periods combine to create hazardous mass movement conditions. Secondary hazards include avalanche and winter.

Within New Hampshire, Franconia's risk is, near the 6.2/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Grafton County identifies landslide as the foremost hazard, followed by avalanche and winter. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

With a high natural disaster risk rating, Franconia residents benefit from taking preparedness seriously. Reviewing insurance coverage for landslide and secondary hazards, registering for emergency alerts, and maintaining a household emergency kit are practical steps that can significantly reduce impact during a major event.