Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH
Natural Hazards
Nashua has a four-season climate with long, cold, snowy winters and very warm and somewhat humid
summers; spring and autumn in between are relatively brief transitions.
Flooding
Floods are one of the costliest natural hazards in the world, yet most flood loss is both predictable and
preventable.
The Nashua River passes through the center of the city, flowing northeast and into the Merrimack River.
NOAA reports that 32 flooding events have occurred within Hillsborough County since 1950.
Figure 13. Flood Events in Hillsborough County, 1950-2019°
4/16/1996 3/10/1998 4/16/2007 8/4/2012
4/17/1996 6/16/1998 2/13/2008 9/12/2013
5/13/1996 4/1/2004 9/7/2008 10/30/2017
10/21/1996 4/2/2004 9/7/2008 10/30/2017
10/22/1996 10/15/2005 8/22/2009 10/30/2017
10/22/1996 10/15/2005 3/14/2010 1/12/2018
4/20/1997 5/13/2006 3/30/2010 1/12/2018
7114/1997 5/13/2006 4/1/2010 9/18/2018
From 1973 through the present (2018), there have been 11 flood-related declared disasters by FEMA in
Hillsborough County. The most recent declared flooding disaster was in March 2010.
Drought/Water Supply Shortage
Drought is a consequence of anticipated natural precipitation reduction over an extended period, usually a
season or more in length. Droughts are short-term or long-term water deficiencies that cause agricultural,
environmental, and societal impacts. Drought is normally part of all climatic regions, including areas with
high and low average rainfall.
Four indicators are monitored to gauge the presence and severity of hydrologic drought:
=" Groundwater Levels
" Precipitations Deficits
= Streamflow
= Reservoir Storage
5 Storm Events Database, Search Results | National Centers for Environmental Information (noaa.gov).
ESC) Emergency Services 16
Consulting International
