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Androscoggin County, Maine

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
8th of 16highest risk in Maine
$23Mexpected losses a year
29federal declarations
1 in 200homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Androscoggin County, Maine has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 59% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 16 counties in Maine. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $23 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $204 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2024 (severe storm and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (164 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.1 million on 147 claims here, including $602,000 for floods in 1987.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Androscoggin County

$10.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Hurricane

Moderate
$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 8 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow61.6
$10M
HurricaneModerate86.2
$5M
Ice stormHigh94.8
$2M
EarthquakeLow74.9
$1M
Winter weatherVery High96.5
$977K
DroughtModerate76.2
$808K
Cold waveLow39.6
$712K
Strong windLow47.6
$560K
LightningModerate69.8
$547K
HailLow57.9
$386K
TornadoVery Low19.8
$249K
Heat waveVery Low36.3
$208K
WildfireVery Low24.8
$12K
LandslideVery Low60.7
$3K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Androscoggin County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm11
Snowstorm7
Flood6
Hurricane4
Freezing1

Most recent

Jan 30, 2024Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2023Hurricane LeeEmergency
Mar 12, 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 25, 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 9, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 25, 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 29, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice JamsMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2005Record SnowEmergency
Show all 29
Apr 1, 2005SnowEmergency
Mar 14, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 2004SnowEmergency
May 14, 2003Severe Winter Cold and FrostMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2001SnowEmergency
Apr 28, 2000Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice JamsMajor disaster
Nov 18, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Ice Storms, Rains and High WindsMajor disaster
May 20, 1996Severe Storms, Mudslides, FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 1996Severe Storms, Ice Jams, FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1993Heavy Rain, Snowmelt, Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Blizzards, Severe Winds & Snowfall, Coastal StormEmergency
Mar 27, 1992Heavy Rains, Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 28, 1991Hurricane Bob & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 7, 1989Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 9, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 27, 1970Severe Storms, Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster

Maine also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 266 storm reports in Androscoggin County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 4 injuries and about $9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 31, 1971.

4tornadoes
56hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
127damaging thunderstorm winds
65floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 31, 1971F2–1 / 0
Jul 31, 1971F2–0 / 0
Jul 14, 1988F1–0 / 0
Jul 14, 1975F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 14, 1988Tornado–$3M
May 1, 2023FloodNorth Livermore$1M
Apr 16, 2007FloodLewiston$1M
Aug 16, 2008Flash FloodMinot$1M
Dec 19, 2023FloodLisbon Ridge$560K
May 1, 2023FloodShy Corner$300K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1858, 3 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Androscoggin County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1869, with top winds near 105 mph about 55 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
11tropical storms
1996most recent: Bertha

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 4, 1869UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph55 mi
Sep 9, 1869UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph53 mi
Aug 19, 1991BobCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi
Sep 13, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Sep 16, 1858UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Jul 14, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 65 mph52 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 14, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 65 mph52 mi
Aug 19, 1991BobCategory 1, 75 mph55 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 50 mph57 mi
Sep 26, 1961EstherTropical storm, 45 mph51 mi
Sep 13, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph56 mi
Jul 31, 1960BrendaTropical storm, 45 mph30 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Androscoggin County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (164 policies)
35%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.1 millionpaid on 147 flood claims since 1978
1987costliest year, with $602,336 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Androscoggin County

$252,800median home value (Maine $296,600, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (Maine 1977, US 1980)
64%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 50,471 housing units.

Compare in Maine

All 16 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Cumberland CountyLowInland flooding
York CountyModerateInland flooding
Penobscot CountyLowInland flooding
Kennebec CountyLowInland flooding
Androscoggin CountyLowInland flooding
Aroostook CountyLowCold wave
Oxford CountyLowInland flooding
Hancock CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Cumberland CountyLow35
Kennebec CountyLow23
Oxford CountyLow35
Sagadahoc CountyVery Low21
Franklin CountyLow31

Cities in Androscoggin County

Common questions about Androscoggin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Androscoggin County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Androscoggin County, about $10.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $4.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Androscoggin County had?

Androscoggin County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm and Flooding in January 2024.

Is Androscoggin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 8th highest of 16 in Maine. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Androscoggin County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 200 homes in Androscoggin County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Androscoggin County had?

NOAA records list 4 tornadoes in Androscoggin County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 31, 1971. The weather service has also logged 56 hail reports and 65 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Androscoggin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 11 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Androscoggin County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1869, with winds near 105 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.