Seawall Campground · Photo: Suekoehler · CC BY-SA 4.0Southwest Harbor’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southwest Harbor gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (46%), then coastal flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1978.
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 Southwest Harbor’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Southwest Harbor faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
Coastal flooding
River and rain flooding
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 Southwest Harbor’s grade
Hurricanes are 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in Southwest Harbor, and Southwest Harbor’s rate of hurricanes damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 30%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Southwest Harbor’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $706K a year in losses across Southwest Harbor: $594K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Southwest Harbor flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Southwest Harbor, from FEMA’s records: 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Southwest Harbor is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Hancock County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Southwest Harbor
Disasters that paid out in Southwest Harbor itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Southwest Harbor), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$226K to the Town of Southwest Harbor for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides$12K to the Town of Southwest Harbor for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$1K to the Town of Southwest Harbor for repairs
- 2007Flooding$4K to the Town of Southwest Harbor for repairs
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$11K to the Town of Southwest Harbor for repairs
- 2003Snow$8K to the Town of Southwest Harbor for repairs
Show all 9
- 2003Snow$7K to the Town of Southwest Harbor for repairs
- 2002Severe Winter Cold and Frost$6K to the Town of Southwest Harbor for repairs
- 2001Snow$5K to the Town of Southwest Harbor 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 Southwest Harbor after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Southwest Harbor archive →Southwest Harbor and its neighbors
Southwest Harbor is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tremont | Bless damage than 64% | hurricanes | 2 |
| Mount Desert | Bless damage than 61% | hurricanes | — |
| Southwest Harbor | Bless damage than 56% | hurricanes | 7 |
| Cranberry Isles | — | 196 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Northeast Harbor | — | 419 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Frenchboro | — | 30 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 Southwest Harbor 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- 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.
- Southwest Harbor residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Southwest Harbor
Is Southwest Harbor at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Southwest Harbor has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (46%) and coastal flooding (30%). 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 Southwest Harbor flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Southwest Harbor since 1978, $123K in all, or 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Southwest Harbor 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 Southwest Harbor?
Southwest Harbor is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Southwest Harbor?
By FEMA money that reached Southwest Harbor, Severe Storms and Flooding (2024): 15 households applied for aid, $13K approved, and $226K to the Town of Southwest Harbor for repairs.
Is Southwest Harbor at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and Southwest Harbor’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Southwest Harbor.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Southwest Harbor’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.