Acadian Landing Site · Photo: Todd Edgard (NPS employee) · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Madawaska than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madawaska gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #6 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2008.
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 Madawaska’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Madawaska 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 Madawaska’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Madawaska, and Madawaska’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
A #6 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Madawaska’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, Madawaska has less expected damage per building than 96% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Madawaska: $691K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Madawaska flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Madawaska, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Madawaska isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Aroostook County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Madawaska
Disasters that paid out in Madawaska itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Madawaska), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$16K to the Town of Madawaska for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Snow$23K to the Town of Madawaska for repairs
- 2005Snow$33K to the Town of Madawaska for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$14K to the Town of Madawaska for repairs
- 2003Snow$23K to the Town of Madawaska for repairs
- 2003Snow$17K to the Town of Madawaska for repairs
Show all 9
- 2002Severe Winter Cold and Frost$2K to the Town of Madawaska for repairs
- 2001Snow$4K to the Town of Madawaska for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams$1K to the Town of Madawaska 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 Madawaska after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Madawaska archive →Madawaska and its neighbors
Madawaska has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madawaska | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Frenchville | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| St. Agatha | — | 842 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Grand Isle | — | 407 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 Madawaska 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 Madawaska
Is Madawaska at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Madawaska has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #6 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (16%). 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 Madawaska flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Madawaska since 2008, $22K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Madawaska 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 Madawaska?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Madawaska’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 Madawaska?
By FEMA money that reached Madawaska, Severe Storms and Flooding (2008): 8 households applied for aid, $36K approved, and $16K to the Town of Madawaska for repairs.
Is Madawaska at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Madawaska’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Madawaska.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Madawaska’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.