Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0For coastal flooding, Biddeford’s building-damage rate is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Biddeford gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #97 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then hurricanes (25%). Flood insurance has paid 180 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 stands out about Biddeford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Biddeford 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
Earthquakes
Coastal flooding
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 Biddeford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Biddeford, and Biddeford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 8%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B #97 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Biddeford’s residents live in 7 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, Biddeford has more expected damage per building than 68% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.4M a year in losses across Biddeford: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Biddeford flood? Yes: 180 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Biddeford, from FEMA’s records: 17.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm43 claims · $236K
- The April 2007 nor’easter23 claims · $231K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $34K
Biddeford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: York County.18 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Biddeford
Disasters that paid out in Biddeford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Biddeford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storm$37K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding40 households applied for aid$215K aid approved$2.8M to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding$31K to the City of Biddeford for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Severe Storm and Flooding$5.1M to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2018Severe Storm and Flooding$122K to the City of Biddeford for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$24K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
Show all 18
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$48K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$65K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$5K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$20K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$17K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$176K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding63 households applied for aid$53K aid approved$279K to the City of Biddeford for repairs23 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding20 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$2K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2005Snow$28K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$35K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$49K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
- 2001Snow$47K to the City of Biddeford for repairs
York County has had 35 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Biddeford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Biddeford archive →Biddeford and its neighbors
Biddeford is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Saco | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 217 |
| Biddeford | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 180 |
| Kennebunkport | C+more damage than 63% | coastal flooding | 175 |
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 Biddeford 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Biddeford
Is Biddeford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Biddeford has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #97 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and hurricanes (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Biddeford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 180 claims in Biddeford since 1978, $3.2M in all, or 17.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (43).
Is Biddeford 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 York County, 3.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Biddeford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Biddeford’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 Biddeford?
By FEMA money that reached Biddeford, Severe Storm and Flooding (2021): $5.1M to the City of Biddeford for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 43 paid, $236K.
Is Biddeford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Biddeford’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Biddeford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Biddeford’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.