Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Caribou faces less hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Caribou gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #60 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1981.
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 Caribou 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
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 Caribou’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Caribou, and Caribou’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #60 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Caribou’s residents live in 3 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, Caribou has less expected damage per building than 58% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Caribou: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Caribou flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Caribou, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Caribou isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Aroostook County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Caribou
Disasters that paid out in Caribou itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Caribou), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$262K to the City of Caribou for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$14K to the City of Caribou for repairs
- 2005Snow$53K to the City of Caribou for repairs
- 2005Snow$47K to the City of Caribou for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$34K to the City of Caribou for repairs
- 2003Snow$42K to the City of Caribou for repairs
Show all 10
- 2003Snow$31K to the City of Caribou for repairs
- 2003Snow$30K to the City of Caribou for repairs
- 2001Snow$19K to the City of Caribou for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams$15K to the City of Caribou for repairs
Aroostook County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Caribou after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Caribou archive →Caribou and its neighbors
Caribou is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Fairfield | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 111 |
| Presque Isle | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Woodland | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Caribou | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Limestone | B+less damage than 72% | 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 Caribou 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.
- 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 Caribou
Is Caribou at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Caribou has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #60 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Caribou flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Caribou since 1981, $6K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Caribou 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 Aroostook County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Caribou?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Caribou’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 Caribou?
By FEMA money that reached Caribou, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): $262K to the City of Caribou for repairs.
Is Caribou at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Caribou’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Caribou.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Caribou’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.