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Oxford County, Maine

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

Relatively Low overall risk
7th of 16highest risk in Maine
$22Mexpected losses a year
35federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Oxford County, Maine has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 66% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 16 counties in Maine. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $22 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $388 per resident. Since 1970 it has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (27 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2024 (severe storm and flooding). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (275 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.9 million on 352 claims here, including $2.7 million for floods in 2023.

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

Top risks in Oxford County

$13.3 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
$3.8 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate73.3
$13M
HurricaneModerate86.1
$4M
Cold waveModerate71.0
$2M
Ice stormHigh91.7
$978K
Winter weatherHigh94.9
$585K
Strong windLow50.5
$493K
EarthquakeLow60.3
$407K
LightningModerate65.9
$377K
TornadoVery Low16.7
$154K
Heat waveVery Low32.2
$135K
DroughtLow40.7
$63K
HailVery Low11.8
$34K
LandslideLow83.2
$21K
WildfireVery Low27.2
$11K
AvalancheLow69.9
$4K

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 moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

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

By type

Severe Storm14
Flood9
Snowstorm6
Hurricane5
Freezing1

Most recent

Jan 30, 2024Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2023Hurricane LeeEmergency
Sep 6, 2023Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 6, 2023Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 22, 2023Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2018Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2011Tropical Storm IreneMajor disaster
Jul 30, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Aug 8, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 25, 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 35
Sep 19, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jun 29, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice JamsMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2005Record SnowEmergency
Apr 1, 2005SnowEmergency
Mar 14, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Feb 5, 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt and Ice JamsMajor disaster
Jan 15, 2004SnowEmergency
May 14, 2003Severe Winter Cold and FrostMajor disaster
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor 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
Oct 28, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor 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 567 storm reports in Oxford County since 1958, with 3 deaths and 6 injuries and about $24.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on June 13, 1961.

17tornadoes
107hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
259damaging thunderstorm winds
165floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 13, 1961F1–0 / 0
Jun 6, 1981F1–0 / 0
Aug 13, 1999F1Sweden0 / 0
Oct 1, 1998F1South Paris0 / 0
Jul 24, 1972F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 18, 2023FloodMiddle Intervale$5M
Apr 16, 2007FloodLovell$3M
Jun 26, 2023Flash FloodAndover$3M
Jul 11, 2007Flash FloodBethel$2M
Dec 18, 2023FloodBethel$2M
May 1, 2023FloodGilead$1M

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, 2 hurricanes and 7 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Oxford County, 4 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1869, with top winds near 105 mph about 63 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
7tropical storms
1971most recent: Doria

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 4, 1869UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph63 mi
Sep 9, 1869UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph26 mi
Sep 13, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph32 mi
Sep 16, 1858UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph25 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph46 mi
Nov 3, 1861UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 50 mph32 mi
Sep 26, 1961EstherTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Sep 13, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph32 mi
Jul 31, 1960BrendaTropical storm, 45 mph34 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph46 mi
Oct 4, 1869UnnamedCategory 2, 105 mph63 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 Oxford County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (275 policies)
19%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.9 millionpaid on 352 flood claims since 1978
2023costliest year, with $2.7 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 Oxford County

$217,300median home value (Maine $296,600, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Maine 1977, US 1980)
53%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11%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; 36,855 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
York CountyModerate38
Androscoggin CountyLow29
Carroll County, NHLow34
Coos County, NHLow26
Franklin CountyLow31

Common questions about Oxford County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Oxford County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Oxford County, about $13.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $3.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Oxford County had?

Oxford County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1970, including 27 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm and Flooding in January 2024.

Is Oxford County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 7th 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 Oxford County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Oxford 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 Oxford County had?

NOAA records list 17 tornadoes in Oxford County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on June 13, 1961. The weather service has also logged 107 hail reports and 165 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Oxford County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 7 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Oxford 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.