FEMA Records
25
High volume
Maine · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Sagadahoc County, ME
25 FEMA disaster declarations (1970-2024), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low. Most common hazard: Severe Storm.
- 25
- FEMA declarations
- 18
- Major disasters
- 23
- NRI risk · Very Low
- Severe Storm
- Top hazard
The verdict
Sagadahoc County has a nationally busy FEMA history: 25 declarations, more than 71% of counties in this registry. But the state comparison tempers that reading: the total is 15% below the Maine county mean. FEMA's separate National Risk Index places the county safer than 23%; that score models loss and vulnerability rather than counting declarations.
- Safer than 23%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Very Low
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 25
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 85
- 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 Sagadahoc County compare?
Sagadahoc County vs. all counties in this dataset
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
25 Top 29% higher than 71% 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
Sagadahoc 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 Sagadahoc County is led by Riverine Flooding (about $3.6M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively Low), while Ice Storm carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively 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 Sagadahoc County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
The NFIP claims register shows a middle-volume loss record here: 85 paid claims, totaling $1.1M. PlainHazard uses 50-499 claims for this descriptive band; FEMA does not publish it as a safety or coverage category. The $13.4K 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 Sagadahoc County has 25. The gap is 15% 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.
Declaration frequency
Nationally, Sagadahoc County's 25 FEMA records form a high-volume history; within Maine, however, the count is 15% below the county mean. 18 entries carry the Major Disaster classification. The largest incident group is Severe Storm, appearing 9 times. The full 54-year record averages 0.5 declarations annually. A DR label alone does not say whether Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, or both followed.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county's FEMA National Risk Index composite lands at 23.3/100 (Very Low), a modest reading against the rest of the country. Expected Annual Loss is rated Very Low (roughly $9.6M in annualized losses), tempered or compounded by a Relatively Low social-vulnerability score and Very High community-resilience score. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Ice Storm stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 1.3 times per year here, based on 71 historical events on record.
65 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Sagadahoc 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
18/30
25 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.2x national county average)
County Disaster Density Moderate
11/25
25 declarations (0.8x state county average of 29)
Major Disaster Share High
18/25
18 of 25 declarations are major disasters (72%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
18/20
7 different disaster types declared in Sagadahoc County
Historical Declaration Activity
Activity Band
High
vs. Maine Avg
-15%
State avg: 29.4
vs. National Avg
+21%
National avg: 20.7
Avg Per Year
0.5
Over 54 years
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Sagadahoc 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
72%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
23
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Sagadahoc 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | an average of 1.3 times per year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | an average of 16 times per year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | roughly once every 10 years |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | an average of 8.6 times per year |
| Earthquake | Very Low | roughly once every 657 years |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 7 years |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | an average of 17 times per year |
| Drought | Very Low | 3.5 modeled event-days per year |
| Hail | Very Low | an average of 1 time per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | roughly once every 2 years |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | roughly once every 3 years |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | an average of 1.5 times per year |
| Wildfire | Very Low | roughly once every 89,495 years |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.1 modeled event-days per year |
| Tornado | Very Low | roughly once every 42 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Severe Storm 9
Flood 5
Hurricane 3
Snowstorm 3
Biological 2
Fishing Losses 2
Coastal Storm 1
What Severe Storm declarations mean here
Severe Storm is the most frequent declaration type on Sagadahoc County's record, 36% of its declarations. In FEMA's vocabulary this covers convective weather: thunderstorm straight-line winds, large hail, and the multi-day outbreaks that often carry embedded tornadoes. Activity is heaviest in spring and summer, though the season varies by region.
These events behave differently from a hurricane on paper. Damage tends to be distributed along a storm track rather than concentrated on a coastline, and a declaration typically follows an outbreak that crossed several counties over a few days, not a single point of impact. Because the qualifying threshold is the cost of uninsured public and individual losses rather than storm intensity, two similar storms can produce a declaration in one year and none in another.
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 - 18 72.0%
of all 25 declarations
Emergency - 7 28.0%
of all 25 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 2 | |
| 2007 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 1 | |
| 1992 | 1 | |
Show 6 earlier declaration years
| 1991 | 1 | |
| 1987 | 1 | |
| 1980 | 1 | |
| 1974 | 1 | |
| 1972 | 2 | |
| 1970 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 25 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 25 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4764 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2024-03-20 |
| 3598 | HURRICANE LEE | EM | Hurricane | 2023-09-14 |
| 4719 | SEVERE STORM AND FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2023-07-06 |
| 4522 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-04-04 |
| 3444 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 4354 | SEVERE STORM AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2018-01-02 |
| 4208 | SEVERE WINTER STORM, SNOWSTORM, AND FLOODING | DR | Snowstorm | 2015-03-12 |
| 4108 | SEVERE WINTER STORM, SNOWSTORM, AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2013-03-25 |
| 1891 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | DR | Severe Storm | 2010-03-25 |
| 1815 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2009-01-09 |
| 3298 | SEVERE WINTER STORM | EM | Severe Storm | 2008-12-15 |
| 1693 | SEVERE STORMS AND INLAND AND COASTAL FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2007-04-25 |
| 3256 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-19 |
| 1508 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, SNOW MELT AND ICE JAMS | DR | Severe Storm | 2004-02-05 |
| 3164 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2001-03-20 |
| 1198 | SEVERE ICE STORMS, RAINS AND HIGH WINDS | DR | Severe Storm | 1998-01-13 |
| 3099 | BLIZZARDS, SEVERE WINDS & SNOWFALL, COASTAL STORM | EM | Snowstorm | 1993-03-15 |
| 921 | COASTAL STORM | DR | Coastal Storm | 1991-11-07 |
| 915 | HURRICANE BOB & FLOODING | DR | Hurricane | 1991-08-28 |
| 788 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1987-04-09 |
Show 5 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3082 | RED TIDE-TOXIC ALGAE | EM | Fishing Losses | 1980-09-20 |
| 410 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1974-01-18 |
| 356 | TOXIC ALGAE IN COASTAL WATERS | DR | Fishing Losses | 1972-09-28 |
| 326 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1972-03-07 |
| 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 Sagadahoc 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 NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
85
Total Paid
$1.1M
Avg Per Claim
$13.4K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Very Low
Score: 23.3/100
Expected Annual Loss
Very Low
$9.6M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Low
Community Resilience
Very High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Ice Storm Relatively High
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Coastal Flooding Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Very Low
Landslide Very Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Drought Very Low
Hail Very Low
Riverine Flooding Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Cold Wave Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Tornado Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Ice Storm
Ice storms load power lines and tree limbs with accumulating freezing rain until they fail. The characteristic cost is infrastructure and multi-day power loss across a wide area rather than structural damage to buildings, which is why their consequences often outlast the weather that caused them.
Worth noting for Sagadahoc County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Ice Storm carries the highest modeled rating (Relatively High), while the county's declaration history is led by Severe Storm. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
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
Sagadahoc County's closest FEMA peer: Clarke County, MS
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Sagadahoc County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Sagadahoc County shows 25 FEMA declarations, led by Severe Storm.
Similar Major-disaster share
Sagadahoc County: 18 of 25 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Sagadahoc County: NRI composite 23.3 (Very 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 Sagadahoc County - capture-dated entries only.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Sagadahoc County's NFIP claims file (85 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 Sagadahoc County?
The most common disaster type in Sagadahoc County is Severe Storm, with 9 declarations. Other disaster types include Flood (5), Hurricane (3), Snowstorm (3).
How does Sagadahoc County's FEMA declaration record compare with the Maine average?
The typical Maine county has 29.4 FEMA declaration records; Sagadahoc County has 25, or 15% fewer. Against the national county mean of 20.7, this county's total is 21% higher. The comparison is historical and says nothing about the probability of a future event.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Sagadahoc County received?
Sagadahoc County has received 18 major disaster declarations, representing 72% of all 25 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Sagadahoc County filed?
Sagadahoc County has 85 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $1.1M in payments, with an average of $13.4K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Sagadahoc County?
No. In Sagadahoc County, Ice Storm has the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High), while Riverine Flooding leads Expected Annual Loss at about $3.6M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Sagadahoc County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Sagadahoc County was 1972, with 2 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1970 to 2024.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Sagadahoc County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Sagadahoc County, Maine has an overall risk score of 23.3 out of 100 (Very Low). On social vulnerability the county rates Relatively Low; on community resilience, Very High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Very Low, representing $9.6M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Sagadahoc County?
Based on FEMA NRI data, the highest-risk natural hazard in Sagadahoc County as of the latest release is Ice Storm (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Winter Weather (Relatively Moderate) and Hurricane (Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts ice storm here at an average of 1.3 times per year, drawn from 71 historical events on record. These scores are based on FEMA's analysis of historical event frequency, 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 Sagadahoc County
Against a Maine county mean of 29 declarations, Sagadahoc County, ME records 25, or 15% fewer. PlainHazard classifies that historical total as high activity.
- Major Disaster is the largest group (18 of 25) in a declaration history that remains below its state benchmark; frequency here is not a forecast. Maine overview
- Nationally the county exceeds 71% 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.