Photo: Unknown photographer · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Hampden than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hampden gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #82 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2005.
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 Hampden 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 Hampden’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hampden, and Hampden’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 8%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #82 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hampden’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, Hampden has more expected damage per building than 57% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Hampden: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hampden flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hampden, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hampden isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Penobscot County.The storms Hampden remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Penobscot County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Hampden itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20051 flood claims paidThe year of Snow, declared for Penobscot County
Penobscot County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Hampden after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hampden archive →Hampden and its neighbors
Hampden is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hermon | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Newburgh | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Orrington | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bangor | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Hampden | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Brewer | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Winterport | Cmore damage than 66% | 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 Hampden 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 Hampden
Is Hampden at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hampden has lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #82 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and hurricanes (14%). 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 Hampden flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Hampden since 2005, $20K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hampden 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 Penobscot County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Hampden?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hampden’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Hampden at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Hampden’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hampden.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hampden’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.