FEMA Records
24
Above median
Maine · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Aroostook County, ME
24 FEMA disaster declarations (1970-2023), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low. Most common hazard: Snowstorm.
- 24
- FEMA declarations
- 13
- Major disasters
- 80
- NRI risk · Relatively Low
- Snowstorm
- Top hazard
The verdict
Aroostook County has a nationally busy FEMA history: 24 declarations, more than 66% of counties in this registry. But the state comparison tempers that reading: the total is 18% below the Maine county mean. FEMA's separate National Risk Index places the county in the riskiest 20%; that score models loss and vulnerability rather than counting declarations.
- Riskiest 20%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Low
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 24
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 358
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records; an EM authorizes a narrower set of federal assistance than a DR.
How does Aroostook County compare?
Aroostook County vs. all counties in this dataset
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
24 Top 34% higher than 66% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-03
Aroostook County's FEMA Risk Index score
FEMA National Risk Index composite score vs. the Maine county average
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Aroostook County is led by Cold Wave (about $14.8M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively High), while Winter Weather carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Very High). EAL and risk score use different inputs; they need not agree.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025 release) - Expected Annual Loss vs composite risk rating by hazard.
What does Aroostook County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
The NFIP claims register shows a middle-volume loss record here: 358 paid claims, totaling $4.6M. PlainHazard uses 50-499 claims for this descriptive band; FEMA does not publish it as a safety or coverage category. The $12.8K average describes payments on recorded claims only, leaving uninsured damage and properties without a claim outside the measure.
Start with the state benchmark: a Maine county averages 29.4 federal declaration records, while Aroostook County has 24. The gap is 18% below that mean. Fewer entries indicate a quieter history of recorded federal actions, not immunity from a hazard and not a prediction about what happens next.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 80.4/100 (Relatively Low). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Low (roughly $34.8M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively High and community resilience Relatively Moderate, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Winter Weather stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Very High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 30 times per year here, based on 564 historical events on record.
Declaration frequency
Nationally, Aroostook County's 24 FEMA records form a high-volume history; within Maine, however, the count is 18% below the county mean. 13 entries carry the Major Disaster classification. The largest incident group is Snowstorm, appearing 9 times. The full 53-year record averages 0.5 declarations annually. A DR label alone does not say whether Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, or both followed.
56 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Aroostook County, ME · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) High
17/30
24 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.2x national county average)
County Disaster Density Moderate
10/25
24 declarations (0.8x state county average of 29)
Major Disaster Share High
14/25
13 of 24 declarations are major disasters (54%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
15/20
6 different disaster types declared in Aroostook County
Historical Declaration Activity
Activity Band
High
vs. Maine Avg
-18%
State avg: 29.4
vs. National Avg
+16%
National avg: 20.7
Avg Per Year
0.5
Over 53 years
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Aroostook County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
54%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
80
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Aroostook County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Very High | an average of 30 times per year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | an average of 9.1 times per year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 17 years |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | an average of 2.3 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | roughly once every 305 years |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | an average of 3.3 times per year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 8 years |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 1 years |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | an average of 17 times per year |
| Avalanche | Very Low | roughly once every 100 years |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 1.7 modeled event-days per year |
| Hail | Very Low | roughly once every 4 years |
| Wildfire | Very Low | roughly once every 47,241 years |
| Tornado | Very Low | roughly once every 4 years |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.4 modeled event-days per year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Snowstorm 9
Flood 6
Severe Storm 4
Hurricane 2
Biological 2
Freezing 1
What Snowstorm declarations mean here
Snowstorm is the most frequent declaration type on Aroostook County's record, 38% of its declarations. Snow-related declarations work on a narrower basis than most other hazards: they are generally issued to reimburse the cost of snow removal and emergency protective measures, rather than to repair destroyed property.
The qualifying test is unusual too. FEMA assesses snowfall against record levels for the affected area, so the same storm total can qualify in a county where it is historically extreme and not qualify a few hundred miles north where it is an ordinary winter. A low snowstorm declaration count is therefore not evidence of mild winters.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 13 54.2%
of all 24 declarations
Emergency - 11 45.8%
of all 24 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2011 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 4 | |
| 2004 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 2 | |
| 2001 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 1 | |
| 1994 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 2 | |
| 1991 | 1 | |
| 1974 | 1 | |
Show 2 earlier declaration years
| 1973 | 1 | |
| 1970 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 24 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 24 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3598 | HURRICANE LEE | EM | Hurricane | 2023-09-14 |
| 4522 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-04-04 |
| 3444 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 1953 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2011-02-01 |
| 1755 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2008-05-09 |
| 3265 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2006-02-24 |
| 3256 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-19 |
| 1591 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, SNOW MELT, AND ICE JAMS | DR | Severe Storm | 2005-06-29 |
| 3209 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2005-04-01 |
| 3206 | RECORD AND/OR NEAR RECORD SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2005-03-14 |
| 3194 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2004-01-26 |
| 3190 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2004-01-15 |
| 1468 | SEVERE WINTER COLD AND FROST | DR | Freezing | 2003-05-14 |
| 3174 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2003-03-11 |
| 3164 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2001-03-20 |
| 1326 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND ICE JAMS | DR | Severe Storm | 2000-04-28 |
| 1198 | SEVERE ICE STORMS, RAINS AND HIGH WINDS | DR | Severe Storm | 1998-01-13 |
| 1029 | FLOODING AND ICE JAMS | DR | Flood | 1994-05-13 |
| 988 | HEAVY RAIN, SNOWMELT, ICE JAMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1993-05-11 |
| 3099 | BLIZZARDS, SEVERE WINDS & SNOWFALL, COASTAL STORM | EM | Snowstorm | 1993-03-15 |
Show 4 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 901 | SEVERE STORMS, ICE JAMS & FLOODING | DR | Snowstorm | 1991-04-19 |
| 410 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1974-01-18 |
| 384 | HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1973-05-23 |
| 284 | SEVERE STORMS, ICE JAMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1970-02-27 |
Storm Events in Maine
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Aroostook County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 972 | 3 | 0 | $821.0K |
| Heavy Snow | 817 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Winter Storm | 672 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Winter Weather | 540 | 0 | 52 | $0 |
| High Wind | 261 | 3 | 0 | $40.0K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
358
Total Paid
$4.6M
Avg Per Claim
$12.8K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Score: 80.4/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Low
$34.8M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively High
Community Resilience
Relatively Moderate
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Winter Weather Very High
Cold Wave Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Riverine Flooding Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Drought Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Tornado Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Winter Weather
Winter Weather in the model means the accumulation of snow and cold that disrupts rather than destroys: road closures, roof loads, burst pipes and lost heating. Its costs land heavily on transport and on households least able to absorb an interruption.
For Aroostook County the two measures on this page point the same way: Winter Weather is the county's highest-rated modeled hazard (Very High), and Snowstorm declarations also lead its federal record. Where the model and the declaration history agree, the reading is comparatively straightforward, the hazard is both expected and repeatedly realised.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Aroostook County's closest FEMA peer: Hampden County, MA
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Aroostook County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Aroostook County shows 24 FEMA declarations, led by Snowstorm.
Similar Major-disaster share
Aroostook County: 13 of 24 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Aroostook County: NRI composite 80.4 (Relatively Low).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Aroostook County - capture-dated entries only.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Aroostook County's NFIP claims file (358 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Aroostook County?
The most common disaster type in Aroostook County is Snowstorm, with 9 declarations. Other disaster types include Flood (6), Severe Storm (4), Hurricane (2).
How does Aroostook County's FEMA declaration record compare with the Maine average?
The typical Maine county has 29.4 FEMA declaration records; Aroostook County has 24, or 18% fewer. Against the national county mean of 20.7, this county's total is 16% higher. The comparison is historical and says nothing about the probability of a future event.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Aroostook County received?
Aroostook County has received 13 major disaster declarations, representing 54% of all 24 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Aroostook County filed?
Aroostook County has 358 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $4.6M in payments, with an average of $12.8K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Aroostook County?
No. In Aroostook County, Winter Weather has the highest National Risk Index rating (Very High), while Cold Wave leads Expected Annual Loss at about $14.8M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Aroostook County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Aroostook County was 2005, with 4 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1970 to 2023.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Aroostook County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Aroostook County, Maine has an overall risk score of 80.4 out of 100 (Relatively Low). On social vulnerability the county rates Relatively High; on community resilience, Relatively Moderate. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Low, representing $34.8M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Aroostook County?
Based on FEMA NRI data, the highest-risk natural hazard in Aroostook County is Winter Weather (risk rating: Very High). Other significant hazards include Cold Wave (Relatively High) and Hurricane (Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts winter weather here at an average of 30 times per year, drawn from 564 historical events on record. The underlying methodology weighs historical event frequency against exposed assets and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
What this means for Aroostook County
Against a Maine county mean of 29 declarations, Aroostook County, ME records 24, or 18% fewer. PlainHazard classifies that historical total as high activity.
- Major Disaster is the largest group (13 of 24) in a declaration history that remains below its state benchmark; frequency here is not a forecast. Maine overview
- Nationally the county exceeds 66% of recorded county totals, but its own Maine benchmark is higher. The ranking keeps those two contexts separate. Most-disaster rankings
- Use the data guide to separate this mid-volume insurance-claims file from declaration counts and modeled NRI risk. Disaster-data guide
A below-average federal record is not a safety guarantee. Use National Weather Service alerts and local emergency-management notices for present conditions, not this historical comparison.
PlainHazard derives this profile from FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries and National Risk Index data. The declaration comparison covers 3,266 U.S. counties and county equivalents in this database, refreshed as of 2026-08-03. Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 - all federally-declared disasters for this county. fema.gov/openfema/disaster-declarations
- FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) - per-county per-hazard risk ratings and expected annual loss. hazards.fema.gov/nri
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database - state-level storm/severe-weather event records, 2015-2025. ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainHazard Editorial
Verify with FEMA → · Verify with FEMA NRI → · Verify with NOAA →
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or national statistics report, the data & editorial changelog, or report a data error.