Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0Gardiner’s building-damage rate from ice storms is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gardiner gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #103 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 66 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 Gardiner 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
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 Gardiner’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gardiner, and Gardiner’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 8%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B #103 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gardiner’s residents live in 2 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, Gardiner has more expected damage per building than 72% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Gardiner: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gardiner flood? Sometimes: 66 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gardiner, from FEMA’s records: 21.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December nor’easter9 claims · $212K
Gardiner isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Kennebec County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gardiner
Disasters that paid out in Gardiner itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Gardiner), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding40 households applied for aid$138K aid approved$567K to the City of Gardiner for repairs
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$622K to the City of Gardiner for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$37K to the City of Gardiner for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$15K to the City of Gardiner for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams$9K to the City of Gardiner for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$12K to the City of Gardiner for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$8K to the City of Gardiner for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$13K to the City of Gardiner for repairs
Kennebec County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Gardiner after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gardiner archive →Gardiner and its neighbors
Gardiner 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Litchfield | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| West Gardiner | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Gardiner | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
| Farmingdale | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Pittston | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Randolph | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
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 Gardiner 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.
- 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 Gardiner
Is Gardiner at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gardiner has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #103 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 Gardiner flood?
Flood insurance has paid 66 claims in Gardiner since 1978, $764K in all, or 21.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Nor'easter (9).
Is Gardiner 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 Kennebec County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Gardiner?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gardiner’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 Gardiner?
By FEMA money that reached Gardiner, Severe Storm and Flooding (2023): 40 households applied for aid, $138K approved, and $567K to the City of Gardiner for repairs. By flood claims, December Nor'easter: 9 paid, $212K.
Is Gardiner at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Gardiner’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gardiner.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gardiner’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.