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Congress Street Rumford Maine 5Photo: Jon Platek · CC BY-SA 3.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Rumford · FEMA

FEMA puts Rumford’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rumford gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #141 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 52 claims here since 1981.

River and rain flooding 82%Hurricanes 14%Ice storms 2%

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

more than 81%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#141 of 143 in Maine
Hazard risk
C−#141 of 143
in Maine · higher than 81% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
82% of expected building damage
Flood claims
52
paid since 1981 · $1.9M
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
17
of 34 declared for Oxford County
By hazard

What Rumford 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

82%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

14%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 12 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Ice storms Earthquakes Winter storms Lightning top 2% Tornadoes Strong wind Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Avalanches top 1%
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Rumford’s grade

River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rumford, and Rumford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Rumford sits
Rumford
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− #141 of 143 in Maine; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Rumford’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding82%Hurricanes14%Everything else4%

The typical Maine town has lower expected damage than 70% of U.S. towns; within the state, Rumford has more expected damage per building than 99% of Maine towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Rumford: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Rumford covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Rumford flood? Sometimes: 52 flood claims since 1981

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rumford, from FEMA’s records: 15.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1981: 6 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 3 claims1987: 19 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 2 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 0 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 21 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198119872023
19812026
Biggest named events
  • The December nor’easter19 claims · $974K
52
paid claims since 1981
$1.9M
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$36K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Rumford 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.
Disasters

17 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rumford

Disasters that paid out in Rumford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Rumford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2023Severe Storm and Flooding159 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$1.4M to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  2. 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$68K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  3. 2022Severe Storm and Flooding$20K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  4. 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$52K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  5. 2011Tropical Storm Irene$374K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  6. 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides$38K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
Show all 17
  1. 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams$19K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  2. 2005Record Snow$26K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  3. 2005Snow$32K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  4. 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$29K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  5. 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt and Ice Jams$29K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  6. 2003Snow$20K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  7. 2002Severe Winter Cold and Frost$2K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  8. 2001Severe Winter Storms and Flooding$8K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  9. 2001Snow$39K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  10. 2000Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams$12K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
  11. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$6K to the Town of Rumford for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in RumfordOxford County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Rumford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Rumford archive →
Next door

Rumford and its neighbors

Rumford is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Mexico: hazard risk DBethel: hazard risk BPeru: hazard risk B−Roxbury: not gradedMexicoBethelPeruRoxburyRumford
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
BethelBless damage than 56%river and rain flooding18
PeruB−more damage than 53%river and rain flooding5
RumfordC−more damage than 81%river and rain flooding52
MexicoDmore damage than 88%river and rain flooding50
Roxbury—352 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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Rumford faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Rumford

Is Rumford at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rumford has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #141 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Rumford flood?

Flood insurance has paid 52 claims in Rumford since 1981, $1.9M in all, or 15.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Nor'easter (19).

Is Rumford 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 Rumford?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rumford’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 Rumford?

By FEMA money that reached Rumford, Severe Storm and Flooding (2023): 159 households applied for aid, $1.0M approved, and $1.4M to the Town of Rumford for repairs. By flood claims, December Nor'easter: 19 paid, $974K.

Is Rumford at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Rumford’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rumford.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rumford’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.