On FEMA’s figures, Penobscot faces less hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Penobscot gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (42%), then river and rain flooding (38%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1979.
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 Penobscot faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
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 Penobscot’s grade
Hurricanes are 42% of the building damage FEMA expects in Penobscot, and Penobscot’s rate of hurricanes damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 12%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
A lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Penobscot’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $250K a year in losses across Penobscot: $162K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Penobscot flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Penobscot, from FEMA’s records: 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Penobscot isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hancock County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Penobscot
Disasters that paid out in Penobscot itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Penobscot), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Flooding$12K to the Town of Penobscot for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$3K to the Town of Penobscot for repairs
- 2003Snow$3K to the Town of Penobscot for repairs
- 2003Snow$3K to the Town of Penobscot for repairs
- 2001Snow$3K to the Town of Penobscot for repairs
Hancock County has had 18 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 Penobscot after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Penobscot archive →Penobscot and its neighbors
Penobscot is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castine | Aless damage than 88% | hurricanes | 4 |
| Penobscot | Aless damage than 88% | hurricanes | 2 |
| Sedgwick | A−less damage than 82% | hurricanes | 3 |
| Surry | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Blue Hill | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Stockton Springs | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Orland | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Brooksville | — | 853 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 Penobscot faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Penobscot
Is Penobscot at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Penobscot has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (42%) and river and rain flooding (38%). 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 Penobscot flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Penobscot since 1979, $3K in all, or 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Penobscot 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 Hancock County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Penobscot?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Penobscot’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 Penobscot?
By FEMA money that reached Penobscot, Flooding (2007): $12K to the Town of Penobscot for repairs.
Is Penobscot at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (42%), and Penobscot’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Penobscot.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Penobscot’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.