Oxford County, Maine
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 73.3 | $13M | ||
| Hurricane | 86.1 | $4M | ||
| Cold wave | 71.0 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 91.7 | $978K | ||
| Winter weather | 94.9 | $585K | ||
| Strong wind | 50.5 | $493K | ||
| Earthquake | 60.3 | $407K | ||
| Lightning | 65.9 | $377K | ||
| Tornado | 16.7 | $154K | ||
| Heat wave | 32.2 | $135K | ||
| Drought | 40.7 | $63K | ||
| Hail | 11.8 | $34K | ||
| Landslide | 83.2 | $21K | ||
| Wildfire | 27.2 | $11K | ||
| Avalanche | 69.9 | $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
Most recent
Show all 35
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 1961 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 6, 1981 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 13, 1999 | F1 | Sweden | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 1, 1998 | F1 | South Paris | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 24, 1972 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18, 2023 | Flood | Middle Intervale | $5M |
| Apr 16, 2007 | Flood | Lovell | $3M |
| Jun 26, 2023 | Flash Flood | Andover | $3M |
| Jul 11, 2007 | Flash Flood | Bethel | $2M |
| Dec 18, 2023 | Flood | Bethel | $2M |
| May 1, 2023 | Flood | Gilead | $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.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 1869 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 9, 1869 | Unnamed | Category 1, 80 mph | 26 mi |
| Sep 13, 1960 | Donna | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 32 mi |
| Sep 16, 1858 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 25 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 46 mi |
| Nov 3, 1861 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1971 | Doria | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 32 mi |
| Sep 26, 1961 | Esther | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 13, 1960 | Donna | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 32 mi |
| Jul 31, 1960 | Brenda | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 34 mi |
| Aug 29, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 46 mi |
| Oct 4, 1869 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 63 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 ›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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | 35 | |
| York County | 38 | |
| Androscoggin County | 29 | |
| Carroll County, NH | 34 | |
| Coos County, NH | 26 | |
| Franklin County | 31 |
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.