Natural Disaster Risk in Gilford

Natural Hazard Profile: Gilford, New Hampshire

Gilford, in Belknap County, is a town of roughly 7,830 residents 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 Gilford residents and property owners must navigate.

Gilford's overall natural disaster risk is rated 5.9/10 (Moderate) by FEMA's National Risk Index. High lightning activity is the primary natural hazard concern, driven by frequent severe thunderstorm development that produces dense ground strike patterns across the area. Secondary hazards include hurricane and ice storm.

Within New Hampshire, Gilford'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 Belknap County identifies lightning as the foremost hazard, followed by hurricane and ice storm. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

Gilford's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that lightning exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.