Natural disaster risk in Maine, by county
All 16 counties in Maine, ranked by FEMA's National Risk Index composite risk score, with each one's highest-rated hazard. Other states
At a glance
Highest overall risk: York County (relatively moderate, score 81.5). Lowest: Sagadahoc County (very low, score 23.3).
Top hazards in Maine
| Hazard | Counties rated relatively high or very high | Average score |
|---|---|---|
| Ice storm | 15 of 16 | 90.8 |
| Winter weather | 14 of 16 | 91.7 |
| Lightning | 5 of 16 | 69.8 |
| Cold wave | 3 of 16 | 56.9 |
| Coastal flooding | 1 of 16 | 68.0 |
All counties, highest risk first
| # | County | Overall risk | Highest-rated hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | York County | Relatively moderate 81.5 | Ice storm (very high) |
| 2 | Aroostook County | Relatively low 80.4 | Winter weather (very high) |
| 3 | Penobscot County | Relatively low 78 | Winter weather (very high) |
| 4 | Cumberland County | Relatively low 77 | Ice storm (very high) |
| 5 | Kennebec County | Relatively low 75.2 | Winter weather (very high) |
| 6 | Somerset County | Relatively low 67.9 | Winter weather (relatively high) |
| 7 | Oxford County | Relatively low 65.9 | Winter weather (relatively high) |
| 8 | Androscoggin County | Relatively low 59.1 | Winter weather (very high) |
| 9 | Hancock County | Relatively low 55 | Winter weather (relatively high) |
| 10 | Piscataquis County | Relatively low 52.4 | Cold wave (relatively high) |
| 11 | Washington County | Relatively low 47.6 | Winter weather (relatively high) |
| 12 | Franklin County | Relatively low 43.6 | Ice storm (relatively high) |
| 13 | Waldo County | Very low 40.6 | Winter weather (relatively high) |
| 14 | Lincoln County | Very low 31.8 | Ice storm (relatively high) |
| 15 | Knox County | Very low 28.6 | Winter weather (relatively high) |
| 16 | Sagadahoc County | Very low 23.3 | Ice storm (relatively high) |
How to read these ratings
- Ratings run in five steps: very low, relatively low, relatively moderate, relatively high and very high. They compare a county with every other US county; they are not a measure of danger on their own.
- Scores run from 0 to 100 and are national percentiles. The bar shows the score: a score of 80 means a higher value than 80% of US counties.
- Overall risk combines the expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.
- Expected annual loss is the average yearly loss to buildings, people and agriculture the model expects from all 18 hazards.
- Social vulnerability describes how hard it may be for people to prepare for and recover from a disaster. Higher is worse.
- Community resilience describes a community's ability to prepare, adapt and recover. Higher is better.
- "Not applicable" means FEMA does not model that hazard there (for example, hurricanes far inland).
About this data
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, version 1.20, released December 2025, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (US public domain). About the National Risk Index. The index is a model of relative risk built from historical hazard records, what is exposed and community factors. It is not a forecast, it does not describe any single property, and it is not insurance or financial advice. For decisions about a specific address, check FEMA's flood maps and your local emergency management office.
Questions
Which county in Maine has the highest natural disaster risk?
York County has the highest composite risk score in Maine in FEMA's National Risk Index: 81.5, rated relatively moderate.
Which county in Maine has the lowest natural disaster risk?
Sagadahoc County has the lowest composite risk score in Maine: 23.3, rated very low. A low score means lower modelled risk compared with other US counties, not no risk.
What natural disasters is Maine most at risk from?
Across Maine, the hazards rated highest in the most counties are ice storm, winter weather, lightning, according to FEMA's National Risk Index. Each county page lists all 18 hazards.
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