Aroostook County, Maine
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Aroostook County, Maine has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 80% of US counties. It ranks 2nd of 16 counties in Maine. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $35 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $519 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (12 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2023 (Hurricane Lee). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (92 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $4.6 million on 358 claims here, including $2.1 million for floods in 2008.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Aroostook County
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 97.6 | $15M | ||
| Inland flooding | 76.1 | $14M | ||
| Hurricane | 83.1 | $2M | ||
| Winter weather | 99.2 | $2M | ||
| Earthquake | 77.7 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 53.9 | $498K | ||
| Lightning | 52.4 | $206K | ||
| Ice storm | 68.5 | $165K | ||
| Tornado | 15.7 | $125K | ||
| Hail | 27.5 | $86K | ||
| Drought | 42.4 | $68K | ||
| Heat wave | 14.7 | $28K | ||
| Landslide | 80.4 | $13K | ||
| Wildfire | 26.2 | $9K | ||
| Avalanche | 44.2 | $277 |
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 high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Aroostook County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 22
Maine also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 941 storm reports in Aroostook County since 1954, with 3 deaths and 14 injuries and about $15 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on August 11, 1954.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 1954 | F2 | – | 1 / 1 |
| Aug 15, 1958 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 16, 1957 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1994 | F1 | St. Francis To | 2 / 0 |
| Jul 1, 1971 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2018 | Flood | Skerry | $3M |
| Aug 11, 2016 | Hail | Caribou | $1M |
| Apr 29, 2008 | Flood | Hamlin | $727K |
| May 1, 2008 | Flood | Hamlin | $727K |
| Apr 29, 2008 | Flood | Ft Kent | $727K |
| Apr 30, 2008 | Flood | Stimson | $727K |
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, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Aroostook County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1869, with top winds near 70 mph about 44 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 5, 1869 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 44 mi |
| Sep 9, 1869 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 45 mi |
| Aug 30, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 17, 1858 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 53 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Oct 5, 1869 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 44 mi |
| Sep 9, 1869 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 45 mi |
| Sep 17, 1858 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 53 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 Aroostook County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Aroostook County
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; 38,450 housing units.
Compare in Maine
All 16 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | Inland flooding | |
| York County | Inland flooding | |
| Penobscot County | Inland flooding | |
| Kennebec County | Inland flooding | |
| Androscoggin County | Inland flooding | |
| Aroostook County | Cold wave | |
| Oxford County | Inland flooding | |
| Hancock County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Penobscot County | 20 | |
| Somerset County | 27 | |
| Washington County | 22 | |
| Piscataquis County | 23 |
Common questions about Aroostook County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Aroostook County?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Aroostook County, about $14.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $13.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Aroostook County had?
Aroostook County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 12 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Lee in September 2023.
Is Aroostook County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 2nd 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 Aroostook County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Aroostook 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 Aroostook County had?
NOAA records list 30 tornadoes in Aroostook County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on August 11, 1954. The weather service has also logged 213 hail reports and 129 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Aroostook County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Aroostook County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1869, with winds near 70 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.