Photo: Anewt72690 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Blue Hill faces less hazard damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blue Hill gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #53 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (37%), then hurricanes (35%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2024.
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 Blue Hill’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Blue Hill 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
Coastal flooding
Ice storms
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 Blue Hill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 37% of the building damage FEMA expects in Blue Hill, and Blue Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 95% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 13%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #53 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Blue Hill’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Maine town has lower expected damage than 70% of U.S. towns; within the state, Blue Hill has less expected damage per building than 63% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $767K a year in losses across Blue Hill: $557K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Blue Hill flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2024
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Blue Hill, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Blue Hill isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hancock County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Blue Hill
Disasters that paid out in Blue Hill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Blue Hill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$1K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides$19K to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$13K to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs
- 2007Flooding$16K to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams$136K to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$7K to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs
Show all 10
- 2003Snow$5K to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs
- 2003Snow$4K to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs
- 2002Severe Winter Cold and Frost$820 to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs
- 2001Snow$6K to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs
Hancock County has had 18 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 Blue Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Blue Hill archive →Blue Hill and its neighbors
Blue Hill is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penobscot | Aless damage than 88% | hurricanes | 2 |
| Sedgwick | A−less damage than 82% | hurricanes | 3 |
| Surry | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Blue Hill | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Tremont | Bless damage than 64% | hurricanes | 2 |
| Mount Desert | Bless damage than 61% | hurricanes | — |
| Brooklin | — | 869 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Blue Hill 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Blue Hill
Is Blue Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Blue Hill has lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #53 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (37%) and hurricanes (35%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Blue Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Blue Hill since 2024, $13K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Blue Hill 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 Hancock County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Blue Hill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Blue Hill’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 Blue Hill?
By FEMA money that reached Blue Hill, Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams (2005): $136K to the Town of Blue Hill for repairs.
Is Blue Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (37%), and Blue Hill’s rate for it is lower than 95% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Blue Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Blue Hill’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.