Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Paris faces less hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Paris gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #63 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%), then hurricanes (31%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2010.
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 Paris 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 Paris’ grade
River and rain flooding is 55% of the building damage FEMA expects in Paris, and Paris’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 9%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #63 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Paris’ 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, Paris has less expected damage per building than 56% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Paris: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Paris flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2010
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Paris, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Paris isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Oxford County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Paris
Disasters that paid out in Paris itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Paris), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$25K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2022Severe Storm and Flooding$17K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$10K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$154K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams$15K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2005Record Snow$8K to the Town of Paris for repairs
Show all 14
- 2005Snow$12K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$13K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt and Ice Jams$13K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2003Snow$8K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2002Severe Winter Cold and Frost$3K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2001Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$1K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2001Snow$21K to the Town of Paris for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams$9K to the Town of Paris for repairs
Oxford County has had 34 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 Paris after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Paris archive →Paris and its neighbors
Paris has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Norway | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Oxford | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hebron | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Buckfield | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| West Paris | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | — |
| South Paris | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Paris 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 Paris
Is Paris at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Paris has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #63 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (55%) and hurricanes (31%). 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 Paris flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Paris since 2010, $6K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Paris 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 Oxford County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Paris?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Paris’ 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 Paris?
By FEMA money that reached Paris, Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding (2007): $154K to the Town of Paris for repairs.
Is Paris at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (55%), and Paris’ rate for it is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Paris.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Paris’ 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.