College Club Inn · Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0For ice storms, Searsport’s building-damage rate is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Searsport gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #96 of 143 in Maine. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%), then hurricanes (29%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2009.
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 Searsport 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 Searsport’s grade
River and rain flooding is 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Searsport, and Searsport’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 10%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B #96 of 143 in Maine; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Searsport’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, Searsport has more expected damage per building than 67% of Maine towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $856K a year in losses across Searsport: $615K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Searsport flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2009
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Searsport, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Searsport isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Waldo County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Searsport
Disasters that paid out in Searsport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Searsport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding16 households applied for aid$51K aid approved$1.3M to the Town of Searsport for repairs
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$13K to the Town of Searsport for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$24K to the Town of Searsport for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides$20K to the Town of Searsport for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2008Severe Winter Storm and Flooding$29K to the Town of Searsport for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding$27K to the Town of Searsport for repairs
Show all 9
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$24K to the Town of Searsport for repairs
- 2007Flooding$10K to the Town of Searsport for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams$8K to the Town of Searsport for repairs
Waldo County has had 22 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 Searsport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Searsport archive →Searsport and its neighbors
Searsport 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castine | Aless damage than 88% | hurricanes | 4 |
| Belfast | A−less damage than 76% | hurricanes | 18 |
| Stockton Springs | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Searsport | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Swanville | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Prospect | — | 923 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Islesboro | — | 636 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 Searsport 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 Searsport
Is Searsport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Searsport has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #96 of 143 in Maine. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (50%) and hurricanes (29%). 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 Searsport flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Searsport since 2009, $11K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Searsport 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 Waldo County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Searsport?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Searsport’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 Searsport?
By FEMA money that reached Searsport, Severe Storms and Flooding (2024): 16 households applied for aid, $51K approved, and $1.3M to the Town of Searsport for repairs.
Is Searsport at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Searsport’s rate for it is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Searsport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Searsport’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.