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Lincoln County, Maine

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

Very Low overall risk
14th of 16highest risk in Maine
$11Mexpected losses a year
26federal declarations
1 in 63homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lincoln County, Maine has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 68% of US counties. It ranks 14th of 16 counties in Maine. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and coastal flooding. FEMA estimates about $11 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $304 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2024 (severe storms and flooding). About 1 in 62 homes here carry federal flood insurance (321 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.6 million on 149 claims here, including $2.4 million for floods in 2024.

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

Top risks in Lincoln County

$3.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Learn your evacuation zone; it is set by surge risk, not by distance from the beach.
  • Ask about flood insurance even outside a mapped high-risk zone.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low28.8
$4M
HurricaneModerate83.4
$3M
Coastal floodingModerate69.8
$1M
Ice stormHigh90.2
$996K
Winter weatherHigh90.9
$450K
LightningModerate58.8
$332K
Cold waveLow24.1
$321K
EarthquakeVery Low47.1
$246K
Strong windVery Low16.7
$150K
TornadoVery Low14.9
$147K
HailVery Low28.8
$117K
DroughtLow32.8
$35K
Heat waveVery Low14.4
$35K
WildfireVery Low18.7
$7K
LandslideVery Low57.0
$2K

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 Lincoln County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood9
Severe Storm9
Hurricane4
Snowstorm2
Coastal Storm1
Freezing1

Most recent

Mar 20, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2023Hurricane LeeEmergency
Jul 6, 2023Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2018Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2011Tropical Storm IreneMajor disaster
Mar 25, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jul 30, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jan 9, 2009Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 15, 2008Severe Winter StormEmergency
May 9, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 26
Apr 25, 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 20, 2007FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 29, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice JamsMajor disaster
May 14, 2003Severe Winter Cold and FrostMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2001SnowEmergency
Jan 13, 1998Severe Ice Storms, Rains and High WindsMajor disaster
May 11, 1993Heavy Rain, Snowmelt, Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 15, 1993Blizzards, Severe Winds & Snowfall, Coastal StormEmergency
Nov 7, 1991Coastal StormMajor disaster
Aug 28, 1991Hurricane Bob & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 9, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 1978High Winds, Tidal Surge & Coastal FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 18, 1974Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 7, 1972Severe 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 122 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries and about $5.7 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on October 29, 1963.

2tornadoes
21hail reports, largest 1.5 inches
63damaging thunderstorm winds
16floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 29, 1963F1–0 / 0
Aug 8, 1958n/a–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 16, 2007FloodNewcastle$2M
Jul 2, 2009LightningNobleboro$2M
May 1, 2023FloodAlna$476K
Aug 3, 2008LightningNewcastle$300K
Oct 29, 1963Tornado–$250K
Jul 2, 2009Flash FloodJefferson$235K

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 12 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Lincoln County, 6 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1869, with top winds near 105 mph about 54 miles away.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
12tropical storms
1996most recent: Bertha

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 4, 1869UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph54 mi
Sep 9, 1869UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph46 mi
Aug 19, 1991BobCategory 1, 75 mph45 mi
Sep 13, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph42 mi
Sep 26, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph64 mi
Jul 14, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 65 mph45 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 14, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 65 mph45 mi
Aug 19, 1991BobCategory 1, 75 mph45 mi
Sep 14, 1971HeidiTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi
Sep 26, 1961EstherTropical storm, 45 mph43 mi
Sep 13, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph42 mi
Jul 31, 1960BrendaTropical storm, 45 mph62 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 Lincoln County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (321 policies)
40.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$3.6 millionpaid on 149 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $2.4 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 Lincoln County

$332,700median home value (Maine $296,600, US $332,700)
1978median year homes were built (Maine 1977, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.1%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; 23,922 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
Kennebec CountyLow23
Knox CountyVery Low27
Waldo CountyVery Low24
Sagadahoc CountyVery Low21

Common questions about Lincoln County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lincoln County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lincoln County, about $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $3.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in March 2024.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 14th 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 Lincoln County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 63 homes in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County had?

NOAA records list 2 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on October 29, 1963. The weather service has also logged 21 hail reports and 16 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Lincoln County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 12 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Lincoln 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.