Photo: Greencan7 · CC BY-SA 4.0Kittery’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kittery gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #95 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (40%), then hurricanes (26%). Flood insurance has paid 18 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 Kittery’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kittery 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
Coastal flooding
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 Kittery’s grade
River and rain flooding is 40% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kittery, and Kittery’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 19%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B #95 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kittery’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, Kittery has more expected damage per building than 66% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Kittery: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kittery flood? Sometimes: 18 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kittery, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The “Halloween” storm3 claims · $13K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $48K
Kittery isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: York County.18 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kittery
Disasters that paid out in Kittery itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Kittery), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Winter Storm$48K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$725K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding$23K to the Town of Kittery for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Storm and Flooding$301K to the Town of Kittery for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$26K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2015Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$81K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
Show all 18
- 2013Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$45K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$23K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$34K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$66K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$131K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding6 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$40K to the Town of Kittery for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding31 households applied for aid$21K aid approved$61K to the Town of Kittery for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Snow$19K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$19K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$23K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2001Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$7K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
- 2001Snow$15K to the Town of Kittery for repairs
York County has had 35 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Kittery after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kittery archive →Kittery and its neighbors
Kittery 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| York | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 350 |
| Eliot | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Kittery | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Rye | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 215 |
| South Eliot | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| New Castle | — | 827 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 Kittery 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Kittery
Is Kittery at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kittery has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #95 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (40%) and hurricanes (26%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kittery flood?
Flood insurance has paid 18 claims in Kittery since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from The "Halloween" Storm (3).
Is Kittery 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 York County, 3.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Kittery?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kittery’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 Kittery?
By FEMA money that reached Kittery, Severe Storms and Flooding (2024): 13 households applied for aid, $2K approved, and $725K to the Town of Kittery for repairs. By flood claims, The "Halloween" Storm: 3 paid, $13K.
Is Kittery at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (40%), and Kittery’s rate for it is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kittery.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kittery’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.