Key facts: Concord
Ice dams on older attics
Heat escaping into an older attic melts snow, which refreezes at the eaves and backs under shingles. Snow peaks in January and February.[1] Look for stains near the top of walls, then improve attic insulation and air sealing once the emergency has passed.
A closer look in Concord
Four rivers, one city
Flood claims recorded in Merrimack County
Concord sits in Merrimack County. FEMA publishes every National Flood Insurance Program claim with personal details removed, which gives a plain record of where water has reached insured buildings here.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Flood insurance claims on record | 299 |
| Year with the most claims | 2006 (89) |
| Largest named event | Flooding (19) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 39% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 65% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the Concord claim record shows
For Concord homes, the local precedents are the events behind the most Merrimack County claims: Flooding (19 claims), March 2010 Nor'Easter (10 claims) and Hurricane Irene (1 claims).
About 39% of claims with a recorded zone came from outside the high-risk A and V zones, so a moderate-risk label does not mean a Concord home stays dry.
If your Concord home is older, note that buildings from before 1975 make up 65% of county claims with a known build date. Many predate current flood maps, so inspect low outlets, ductwork and subfloors closely after any water event.
Federal disaster history for Merrimack County
FEMA lists 29 federal declarations covering Merrimack County. The most common types are severe storm (12), snowstorm (5) and flood (5). The latest are Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020, Covid-19 in 2020 and Severe Storm and Flooding in 2018. When a declaration is open, federal aid may be available to Concord residents, so ask about it alongside your insurance claim.
Concord weather and your home
Weather records for Concord from 2015 through 2024 average 44 inches of precipitation a year, and December and October are the wettest months. The area averages 9.2 days a year with an inch or more.
Concord falls to 20°F or below on about 58 nights a year, which puts pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and garages at risk.
When rain falls in Concord
Seasonal averages for Concord, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 10.0 in | 22% |
| April to June | 11.0 in | 25% |
| July to September | 11.4 in | 26% |
| October to December | 11.9 in | 27% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
Concord home checklist from these records
- Don't rely on recent quiet years. Only 4% of Merrimack County claims date from 2015 or later, so older floods still show what can happen.
- Insulate exposed pipes before 58-plus hard-freeze nights arrive, and know your main shutoff.
- Check roof flashing and drains before December, the wettest month in Concord.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Flooding, 19 insured Merrimack County owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the Concord contractor
- Whether the stain is near the eaves
- Which village you are in
- Whether the water is rising or dripping
Services Concord callers ask about
Questions
Concord water damage questions
Can vermiculite in my attic be disturbed?
Older vermiculite may contain asbestos, so leave it alone and get it checked before work starts.[3]
How do I stop ice dam leaks?
A roofer can clear the immediate problem; keeping attic heat from reaching the roof is the lasting fix.