Maine Central School · Photo: Tkeator · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Maine faces more hazard damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maine gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #700 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 33 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 Maine 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
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 Maine’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Maine, and Maine’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #700 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Maine’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Maine has more expected damage per building than 92% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Maine: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Maine flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Maine, from FEMA’s records: 13.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee16 claims · $636K
Maine isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Broome County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Maine
Disasters that paid out in Maine itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Maine), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$53K to the Town of Maine for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$25K to the Town of Maine for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$88K to the Town of Maine for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee58 households applied for aid$178K aid approved$2.1M to the Town of Maine for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $636K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$250K to the Town of Maine for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$30K to the Town of Maine for repairs
Show all 10
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$96K to the Town of Maine for repairs
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan1 households applied for aid$1K to the Town of Maine for repairs
- 2003Snow$22K to the Town of Maine for repairs
- 2002Snowstorms$29K to the Town of Maine for repairs
Broome County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Maine after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Maine archive →Maine and its neighbors
Maine is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 495 |
| Chenango | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 90 |
| Barker | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Owego | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 390 |
| Maine | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Newark Valley | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Nanticoke | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Glen Aubrey | — | 311 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 Maine 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.
- 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 Maine
Is Maine at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maine has higher expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #700 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). 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 Maine flood?
Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in Maine since 1979, $1.3M in all, or 13.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (16).
Is Maine 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 Broome County, 1.8% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Maine?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Maine’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 Maine?
By FEMA money that reached Maine, Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 58 households applied for aid, $178K approved, and $2.1M to the Town of Maine for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 16 paid, $636K.
Is Maine at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Maine’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Maine.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Maine’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.