Key facts: Lebanon and Hanover
Pipes in ells and porches
Deep frost finds pipes in additions, enclosed porches and old cellars first. Long snow seasons mean long ice dam seasons as well. Know which walls have plumbing, and keep those rooms warm during extreme cold.
A closer look in Lebanon
The July 2023 reminder
Major waterways including the Connecticut overflowed in July 2023, and a federal disaster was declared for the state.[3] West Lebanon's early settlement hugged the river, and downtown follows the Mascoma, so low properties should look at both.
Flood claims recorded in Grafton County
Lebanon sits in Grafton 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 | 363 |
| Year with the most claims | 2011 (99) |
| Largest named event | Hurricane Irene (93) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 21% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 72% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the Lebanon claim record shows
For Lebanon homes, the local precedents are the events behind the most Grafton County claims: Hurricane Irene (93 claims), Flooding (39 claims) and December Nor'Easter (12 claims).
Around Lebanon, about 79% 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 Lebanon home is older, note that buildings from before 1975 make up 72% 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 Grafton County
FEMA lists 40 federal declarations covering Grafton County. The most common types are severe storm (17), flood (8) and hurricane (6). The latest are Severe Storm and Flooding in 2018, Severe Winter Storm and Flooding in 2024 and Severe Storms and Flooding in 1998. If your loss falls inside an open declaration, Lebanon homeowners can check DisasterAssistance.gov as well as their insurance policy.
Lebanon weather and your home
Weather records for Lebanon from 2015 through 2024 average 41 inches of precipitation a year, and October and July are the wettest months. The area averages 5.5 days a year with an inch or more.
Lebanon falls to 20°F or below on about 68 nights a year, which puts pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and garages at risk.
When rain falls in Lebanon
Seasonal averages for Lebanon, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 8.8 in | 21% |
| April to June | 10.1 in | 25% |
| July to September | 10.7 in | 26% |
| October to December | 11.4 in | 28% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
Lebanon home checklist from these records
- Don't rely on recent quiet years. Only 16% of Grafton County claims date from 2015 or later, so older floods still show what can happen.
- Insulate exposed pipes before 68-plus hard-freeze nights arrive, and know your main shutoff.
- Check roof flashing and drains before October, the wettest month in Lebanon.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Hurricane Irene, 93 insured Grafton County owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the Lebanon contractor
- Lebanon, West Lebanon or Hanover
- Whether a pipe froze
- Whether the river or Mascoma is near
Services Lebanon and Hanover callers ask about
Questions
Lebanon and Hanover water damage questions
Can Hanover homes on the Plain flood?
The Plain sits well above the river, but basements, ice dams and burst pipes still happen.
What was the 2023 disaster?
FEMA declared DR-4740 for New Hampshire after severe storms and flooding that July.[3]