Photo: formulanone from Huntsville, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Hallowell faces more hazard damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hallowell gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 69 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 Hallowell’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hallowell 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 Hallowell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hallowell, and Hallowell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #142 of 143 in Maine; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hallowell’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, Hallowell has more expected damage per building than 99% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Hallowell: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hallowell flood? Sometimes: 69 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hallowell, from FEMA’s records: 47.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December nor’easter15 claims · $1,000K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $3K
Hallowell 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hallowell
Disasters that paid out in Hallowell itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hallowell), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding17 households applied for aid$66K aid approved$21K to the City of Hallowell for repairs
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$49K to the City of Hallowell for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$12K to the City of Hallowell for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$21K to the City of Hallowell for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams$2K to the City of Hallowell for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$8K to the City of Hallowell for repairs
Show all 10
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt and Ice Jams$918 to the City of Hallowell for repairs
- 2003Snow$6K to the City of Hallowell for repairs
- 2002Severe Winter Cold and Frost$976 to the City of Hallowell for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$750 to the City of Hallowell 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 Hallowell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hallowell archive →Hallowell and its neighbors
Hallowell is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Chelsea | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Farmingdale | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Augusta | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 94 |
| Hallowell | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
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 Hallowell 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Hallowell
Is Hallowell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hallowell has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (8%). 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 Hallowell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 69 claims in Hallowell since 1978, $1.6M in all, or 47.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Nor'easter (15).
Is Hallowell 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 Hallowell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hallowell’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 Hallowell?
By FEMA money that reached Hallowell, Severe Storm and Flooding (2023): 17 households applied for aid, $66K approved, and $21K to the City of Hallowell for repairs. By flood claims, December Nor'easter: 15 paid, $1,000K.
Is Hallowell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Hallowell’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hallowell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hallowell’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.