Hancock County, Maine
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 23009 · population 55,442 · 1,587 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 824 records for Hancock County, Maine from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 467 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (346 records). 688 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the January 24, 1998 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Coastal Hancock, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1972, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on March 20, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 824on 467 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 423 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $29Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Hancock County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 346 since 1996. 54% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The rank column places the county among Maine's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 346 | 205 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $25M | 10 of 16 |
| High wind and dust storms | 194 | 125 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | – | 7 of 16 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 71 | 32 | 1970-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 16 |
| Floods | 63 | 51 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $3.5M | 10 of 16 |
| Extreme cold | 39 | 19 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 16 |
| Heat | 37 | 23 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 16 |
| Drought | 28 | 15 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 16 |
| Hail | 22 | 17 | 1986-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 16 |
| Lightning | 10 | 9 | 1996-2023 | 1 | 7 | $19K | 10 of 16 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 9 | 7 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 2 | $69K | 7 of 16 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 16 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 2009-2009 | 1 | 13 | – | 3 of 16 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 16 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1977-1977 | 0 | 0 | $122K | 16 of 16 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Hancock County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Hancock County from 1977 to 1977, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 1 tornado whose track touched Hancock County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Maine.
Every tornado record filed for Hancock County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-08-14 | Hancock County | F1 0.3 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Hancock County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 5, 2023 lightning (3 injuries).
A family of 3 was struck by lightning at the Patten Pond Campground. All the victims were checked by EMT's who determined that no injuries had occurred. Hospitalization was not required. The time is estimated.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1135547)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtHancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtHancock County · forecast zone Interior Hancock | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | High WindHancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | High WindHancock County · forecast zone Interior Hancock | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtHancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtHancock County · forecast zone Interior Hancock | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-23 | Winter StormHancock County · forecast zone Interior Hancock | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-23 | BlizzardHancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-10 | Winter WeatherHancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-10 | Winter WeatherHancock County · forecast zone Interior Hancock | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtHancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtHancock County · forecast zone Interior Hancock | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-01-24 | Winter WeatherHancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock Low pressure that developed off the southern New England Coast combined with an area of low pressure moving eastward from the Ohio River Valley to bring a mixture of precipitation to the state. Heavy snow was followed by sleet and freezing rain in most sections of the state, and rain in coastal and downeast sections. ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2009-08-23 | High SurfHancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock High surf generated from Hurricane Bill...which was tracking well east of the region...produced large waves along the Maine coast. A large wave washed a group of spectators at Thunder Hole...in Acadia National Park...into the ocean. The spectators had gathered to watch the high surf break along the rocky coast. The ... | 1 | 13 | – | |
| 2000-07-04 | LightningStonington, Hancock County | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-08-05 | LightningWest Ellsworth, Hancock County A family of 3 was struck by lightning at the Patten Pond Campground. All the victims were checked by EMT's who determined that no injuries had occurred. Hospitalization was not required. The time is estimated. | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2023-07-05 | LightningEllsworth, Hancock County Two people were struck by lightning and transported to the hospital. The extent of the injuries is uncertain. The time is estimated. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2012-06-29 | LightningBar Harbor, Hancock County Lightning injured 2 campers (1 male, 1 female) at the Blackwoods campground at Acadia National Park. The campers were in a tent when ball lightning struck a vehicle 30 feet away which then arced across to the tent striking both campers. The campers were transported to the hospital then released. The time of the ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1996-09-02 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Hancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock Hurricane Edouard moved northeastward well offshore causing over an inch of rain along the immediate coast with lesser amounts inland. Winds gusted to 33 kts at Portland with higher gusts at marine stations in the coastal waters. Mt. Desert Rock had a 1-minute wind of 41 kts with a peak gust of 47 kts. The wind ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2007-04-16 | High WindHancock County · forecast zone Interior Hancock Strong winds uprooted or broke numerous trees...along with snapping many branches across the region. Wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph were common...with some gusts to around 60 mph. Several intervals of particularly strong winds occurred. The first episode of stronger winds occurred during the afternoon of the 16th which ... | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-01-05 | Ice StormHancock County · forecast zone Coastal Hancock | 0 | 0 | $18M | |
| 2021-06-09 | Flash FloodGouldsboro, Hancock County | 0 | 0 | $670K | |
| 2008-09-07 | Flash FloodEllsworth, Hancock County | 0 | 0 | $617K | |
| 2008-09-07 | FloodEastbrook, Hancock County | 0 | 0 | $617K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: August 14, 1977 (tornado, Hancock County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Hancock County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 42 | 116 | 96 | 92 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 30 | 86 | 46 | 32 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 18 | 23 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 32 | 14 | 13 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 16 | 15 | 6 | 2 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 4 | 0 | 5 | 28 z |
Heat in the 2020-26: 28 records against 5 in the decade before, 28 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Hancock County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 162 · Feb 108 · Mar 94 · Apr 34 · May 18 · Jun 47 · Jul 41 · Aug 50 · Sep 34 · Oct 53 · Nov 52 · Dec 131 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Hancock County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Hancock County: 15 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and snowstorm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-03-20 | DR-4764 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2024-01-30 | DR-4754 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2023-09-14 | EM-3598 | Hurricane | Hurricane Lee |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4522 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3444 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-01-02 | DR-4354 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2010-07-01 | DR-1920 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2009-07-30 | DR-1852 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2007-04-25 | DR-1693 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding |
| 2007-04-20 | DR-1691 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2005-09-19 | EM-3256 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-06-29 | DR-1591 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams |
| 2005-03-14 | EM-3206 | Snowstorm | Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2004-01-26 | EM-3194 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2004-01-15 | EM-3190 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2003-05-14 | DR-1468 | Freezing | Severe Winter Cold and Frost |
| 2001-03-20 | EM-3164 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1198 | Severe Storm | Severe Ice Storms, Rains and High Winds |
| 1993-05-11 | DR-988 | Flood | Heavy Rain, Snowmelt, Ice Jams & Flooding |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3099 | Snowstorm | Blizzards, Severe Winds & Snowfall, Coastal Storm |
| 1987-04-09 | DR-788 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1980-09-20 | EM-3082 | Fishing Losses | Red Tide-Toxic Algae |
| 1972-09-28 | DR-356 | Fishing Losses | Toxic Algae in Coastal Waters |
| 1972-03-07 | DR-326 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Hancock County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 63 flood or flash flood records for Hancock County from 1996 to 2024, on 51 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Hancock County ranks 1366th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.1 million on 89 claims filed in Hancock County; the most in one year was 33 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 6 · 1979: 2 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 3 · 1983: 1 · 1986: 2 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 5 · 1991: 2 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 2 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 2 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 4 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 33; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Hancock County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hancock County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $20.0 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $838K | 21 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.1M | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $5.9M | once in about 10 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $847K | 13 a year (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $2.0M | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.0M | 2.7 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $5K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $261K | 3.7 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Hancock County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in MaineEvery Maine tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in MaineThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Maine recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Hancock CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Hancock County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis