Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Fort Kent as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fort Kent gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #128 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 95 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 Fort Kent’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fort Kent 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
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 Fort Kent’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fort Kent, and Fort Kent’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #128 of 143 in Maine; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Fort Kent’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, Fort Kent has more expected damage per building than 89% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Fort Kent: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fort Kent flood? Sometimes: 95 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fort Kent, from FEMA’s records: 41.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Fort Kent is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Aroostook County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fort Kent
Disasters that paid out in Fort Kent itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Fort Kent), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding115 households applied for aid$337K aid approved$830K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Snow$14K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams$45K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs
- 2005Snow$22K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$13K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs
- 2003Snow$16K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs
Show all 11
- 2003Snow$6K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs
- 2002Severe Winter Cold and Frost$13K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs
- 2001Snow$2K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams$14K to the Town of Fort Kent 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 Fort Kent after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fort Kent archive →Fort Kent and its neighbors
Fort Kent is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frenchville | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Fort Kent | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 95 |
| New Canada | — | 449 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Wallagrass | — | 514 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 Fort Kent 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.
- 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.
- Fort Kent residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Fort Kent
Is Fort Kent at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fort Kent has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #128 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (11%). 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 Fort Kent flood?
Flood insurance has paid 95 claims in Fort Kent since 1978, $1.7M in all, or 41.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Fort Kent 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 Fort Kent?
Fort Kent is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Fort Kent?
By FEMA money that reached Fort Kent, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 115 households applied for aid, $337K approved, and $830K to the Town of Fort Kent for repairs.
Is Fort Kent at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Fort Kent’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fort Kent.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fort Kent’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.