New Hampshire roundup: FEMA rejects Madison flood aid, home prices hit record, Perseids peak

Published Aug 14, 2026 · Community · Red Rock Daily staff

Here’s a roundup of recent New Hampshire news: FEMA denied federal funding to help clean up June flood damage in Madison, home prices hit a record in July, the Perseid meteor shower peaked this week alongside a partial solar eclipse, and activist groups are reporting a surge in ICE activity in several communities.

FEMA denies flood cleanup funding for Madison

FEMA has denied New Hampshire’s request for federal funding to help clean up June flood damage, which included washed-out road sections in Madison. In a letter, FEMA said the damage is not severe enough to qualify and should be handled by state and local government. The state disagrees and plans to appeal, saying it will keep working to ensure Madison and surrounding communities get the support they need as they recover from June’s flooding (WMUR, wmur.com/article/fema-funding-denied-madison/73380958, Aug. 8, 2026).

Home prices hit a record in July

New Hampshire’s median single-family home price hit a record $580,000 in July 2026, according to the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, bucking a national trend amid limited housing supply (New Hampshire Bulletin via Caledonian Record; Boston Globe, Aug. 10, 2026).

Perseids peak; partial solar eclipse appears

The Perseid meteor shower peaked overnight Wednesday into Thursday, Aug. 12-13, and WMUR reported it should be a great viewing night if skies stayed clear. A partial solar eclipse also appeared in New Hampshire skies this week (WMUR, wmur.com/article/perseid-meteor-shower-new-hampshire-2026/73417043 and wmur.com/article/partial-solar-eclipse-perseid-meteors-nh-81126/73406763, Aug. 12, 2026).

Activists report surge in ICE activity

Activist groups in New Hampshire are reporting a surge in ICE activity in West Lebanon, Keene and elsewhere in recent days (NHPR, nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-08-11/nh-ice-immigration-lebanon-keene-newhampshire, Aug. 11, 2026).

For more on the Granite State, see the New Hampshire guide.