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Aroostook County, Maine

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

Relatively Low overall risk
2nd of 16highest risk in Maine
$35Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Bold Frontiers, CC BY 2.0

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

$14.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$13.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 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
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Cold waveHigh97.6
$15M
Inland floodingModerate76.1
$14M
HurricaneModerate83.1
$2M
Winter weatherVery High99.2
$2M
EarthquakeLow77.7
$1M
Strong windModerate53.9
$498K
LightningLow52.4
$206K
Ice stormModerate68.5
$165K
TornadoVery Low15.7
$125K
HailVery Low27.5
$86K
DroughtLow42.4
$68K
Heat waveVery Low14.7
$28K
LandslideLow80.4
$13K
WildfireVery Low26.2
$9K
AvalancheVery Low44.2
$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

Snowstorm9
Flood6
Severe Storm4
Hurricane2
Freezing1

Most recent

Sep 14, 2023Hurricane LeeEmergency
Feb 1, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 9, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 24, 2006SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 29, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice JamsMajor disaster
Apr 1, 2005SnowEmergency
Mar 14, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Jan 26, 2004SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 2004SnowEmergency
Show all 22
May 14, 2003Severe Winter Cold and FrostMajor disaster
Mar 11, 2003SnowEmergency
Mar 20, 2001SnowEmergency
Apr 28, 2000Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice JamsMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1998Severe Ice Storms, Rains and High WindsMajor disaster
May 13, 1994Flooding and Ice JamsMajor disaster
May 11, 1993Heavy Rain, Snowmelt, Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Blizzards, Severe Winds & Snowfall, Coastal StormEmergency
Apr 19, 1991Severe Storms, Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 23, 1973Heavy Rains & 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 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.

30tornadoes
213hail reports, largest 3 inches
568damaging thunderstorm winds
129floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 11, 1954F2–1 / 1
Aug 15, 1958F2–0 / 0
Sep 16, 1957F2–0 / 0
Jun 18, 1994F1St. Francis To2 / 0
Jul 1, 1971F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 28, 2018FloodSkerry$3M
Aug 11, 2016HailCaribou$1M
Apr 29, 2008FloodHamlin$727K
May 1, 2008FloodHamlin$727K
Apr 29, 2008FloodFt Kent$727K
Apr 30, 2008FloodStimson$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.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
1893most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 5, 1869UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph44 mi
Sep 9, 1869UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph45 mi
Aug 30, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Sep 17, 1858UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph53 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 30, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph61 mi
Oct 5, 1869UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph44 mi
Sep 9, 1869UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph45 mi
Sep 17, 1858UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph53 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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (92 policies)
433.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4.6 millionpaid on 358 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $2.1 million 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 Aroostook County

$149,700median home value (Maine $296,600, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Maine 1977, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9.2%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; 38,450 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
Penobscot CountyLow20
Somerset CountyLow27
Washington CountyLow22
Piscataquis CountyLow23

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.