Key facts: Keene
When a second flood comes
A closer look in Keene
Rentals with a distant landlord
Students are a large part of the population,[1] and older houses are often divided among tenants with an owner in another town. Report in writing as well as by phone, and photograph your things. Renters insurance is separate from the owner's policy.
Flood claims recorded in Cheshire County
Keene sits in Cheshire 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 | 247 |
| Year with the most claims | 2005 (80) |
| Largest named event | Flooding (10) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 17% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 80% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the Keene claim record shows
For Keene homes, the local precedents are the events behind the most Cheshire County claims: Flooding (10 claims), March 2010 Nor'Easter (1 claims) and Hurricane Irene (1 claims).
Around Keene, about 83% of county claims with a recorded zone came from the high-risk A and V zones, so checking your address on the FEMA flood map tells you a lot here.
If your Keene home is older, note that buildings from before 1975 make up 80% 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 Cheshire County
FEMA lists 33 federal declarations covering Cheshire County. The most common types are severe storm (10), flood (8) and snowstorm (7). The latest are Severe Storms and Flooding in 2003, Severe Storm and Flooding in 2012 and Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020. When a declaration is open, federal aid may be available to Keene residents, so ask about it alongside your insurance claim.
Keene weather and your home
Weather records for Keene from 2015 through 2024 average 46 inches of precipitation a year, and October and December are the wettest months. The area averages 8.4 days a year with an inch or more.
Keene falls to 20°F or below on about 55 nights a year, which puts pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and garages at risk.
When rain falls in Keene
Seasonal averages for Keene, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 10.4 in | 23% |
| April to June | 10.4 in | 23% |
| July to September | 12.6 in | 28% |
| October to December | 12.4 in | 27% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
Keene home checklist from these records
- Don't rely on recent quiet years. Only 8% of Cheshire County claims date from 2015 or later, so older floods still show what can happen.
- Insulate exposed pipes before 55-plus hard-freeze nights arrive, and know your main shutoff.
- Check roof flashing and drains before October, the wettest month in Keene.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Flooding, 10 insured Cheshire County owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the Keene contractor
- Whether you rent
- Distance from the Ashuelot
- Whether the house flooded before