Maine natural disaster risk
Ratings for all 16 counties, the federal disaster record and flood insurance across the state.
Maine has had 50 major federal disaster declarations for natural events since 1953. FEMA expects about $416 million a year in losses from natural hazards across the state. Inland flooding is the costliest hazard in 13 of its 16 counties, followed by cold wave in 2. None is rated Very High overall. About 1% of homes carry federal flood insurance, and the program has paid $85.9 million on 5,537 claims here since 1978.
Highest overall risk
Lowest risk (50,000+ people)
Top hazards
Largest counties
Cumberland County
302,870 people
Inland floodingYork County
211,925 people
Inland floodingPenobscot County
152,080 people
Inland floodingKennebec County
123,577 people
Inland floodingAndroscoggin County
111,105 people
Inland floodingAroostook County
67,034 people
Cold waveOxford County
57,747 people
Inland floodingHancock County
55,442 people
Inland floodingSomerset County
50,421 people
Inland floodingKnox County
40,597 people
HurricaneWaldo County
39,586 people
Inland floodingSagadahoc County
36,681 people
Inland floodingAll 16 counties
| Name | People | Overall risk | Top hazard | Declarations | Homes insured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County | 111,105 | Inland flooding | 29 | 0.5% | |
| Aroostook County | 67,034 | Cold wave | 22 | 0.3% | |
| Cumberland County | 302,870 | Inland flooding | 35 | 1.3% | |
| Franklin County | 29,452 | Inland flooding | 31 | 0.7% | |
| Hancock County | 55,442 | Inland flooding | 20 | 1% | |
| Kennebec County | 123,577 | Inland flooding | 23 | 0.5% | |
| Knox County | 40,597 | Hurricane | 27 | 1.5% | |
| Lincoln County | 35,222 | Inland flooding | 26 | 1.6% | |
| Oxford County | 57,747 | Inland flooding | 35 | 1.1% | |
| Penobscot County | 152,080 | Inland flooding | 20 | 0.4% | |
| Piscataquis County | 16,735 | Cold wave | 23 | 0.4% | |
| Sagadahoc County | 36,681 | Inland flooding | 21 | 0.9% | |
| Somerset County | 50,421 | Inland flooding | 27 | 0.6% | |
| Waldo County | 39,586 | Inland flooding | 24 | 0.8% | |
| Washington County | 31,024 | Inland flooding | 22 | 0.7% | |
| York County | 211,925 | Inland flooding | 38 | 3.4% |
Linked names have a full page. Overall risk from the FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); declarations are federal disaster and emergency declarations for natural events since 1953 (OpenFEMA); homes insured is the share with NFIP flood policies.