Natural Disaster Risk in Plaistow

Natural Hazard Profile: Plaistow, New Hampshire

Plaistow is a town of roughly 7,861 residents in Rockingham County, along the northeastern Atlantic Seaboard. The area experiences long, cold winters and brief, warm summers, with heavy nor'easter snowstorms shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Plaistow.

FEMA rates Plaistow's composite natural disaster risk at 7.3 out of 10 — high risk. The risk of coastal inundation tops the local hazard profile, with the area exposed to storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action during major coastal storm events. Residents should also account for ice storm and earthquake risk in their preparedness planning.

Plaistow's risk score, slightly above the 6.2/10 state average and well above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Rockingham County, the highest-scoring are coastal flood, ice storm, and earthquake. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

With a high natural disaster risk rating, Plaistow residents benefit from taking preparedness seriously. Reviewing insurance coverage for coastal flood 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.