Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Bangor’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bangor gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #81 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Bangor faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Ice storms
Earthquakes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Bangor’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bangor, and Bangor’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 8%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #81 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bangor’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Maine town has lower expected damage than 70% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bangor has more expected damage per building than 56% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.2M a year in losses across Bangor: $7.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bangor flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bangor, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $2K
Bangor isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Penobscot County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bangor
Disasters that paid out in Bangor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bangor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$786K to the City of Bangor for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$77K to the City of Bangor for repairs
- 2005Snow$69K to the City of Bangor for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$104K to the City of Bangor for repairs
- 2003Snow$52K to the City of Bangor for repairs
- 2003Snow$36K to the City of Bangor for repairs
Show all 7
- 2001Snow$20K to the City of Bangor for repairs
Penobscot County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bangor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bangor archive →Bangor and its neighbors
Bangor is 3rd of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hermon | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Orono | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Bangor | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Hampden | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Veazie | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brewer | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Bangor faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
- Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
- Keep sand or salt by the door.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bangor
Is Bangor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bangor has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #81 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bangor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Bangor since 1978, $271K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (1).
Is Bangor in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Penobscot County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Bangor?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bangor’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bangor?
By FEMA money that reached Bangor, Severe Storm and Flooding (2023): $786K to the City of Bangor for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Bangor at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Bangor’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bangor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bangor’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.