Enter any address in Cumberland County, Maine to see its FEMA flood zone
Flood events, including coastal flooding and flash flooding, are the most frequent types of severe weather recorded in Cumberland County, ME over the past 30 years. Recent events illustrate this, with flash flooding reported in March 2024 following heavy rainfall exceeding 3 inches in some areas. Another flash flood event occurred in January 2024, associated with a powerful storm system.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone V have experienced the highest average claim payouts and water depths, suggesting significant risk from coastal storm surge and wave action. Zone A also shows a substantial number of claims with notable average payouts and water depths. Homeowners in coastal areas, as well as those located in or near mapped flood zones like A and V, should pay close attention to flood risk information. Properties in Zone X also have a significant number of claims with high average payouts and water depths, indicating potential flood risk even outside of higher-risk mapped areas.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
116 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Cumberland County, Maine has recorded 182 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 33 flash floods and 65 river or area floods. The county has received 39 federal disaster declarations, 9 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1970–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Apr 3, 2024 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 9, 2024 |
| Hurricane Lee | Hurricane | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Snowstorm | Jan 26, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 8, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Feb 23, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Dec 11, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jan 13, 2024 | 200.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 13, 2024 | 20.00M |
| Flash Flood | Mar 10, 2024 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Mar 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Mar 10, 2024 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 10, 2024 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 8, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jan 13, 2024
The second severe storm in a week���s time struck the northern New England coastline during the middle of January. An intense and rapidly deepening area of low pressure over the Great Lakes region (979 mb) combined the highest astronomical tides of the month to produce extreme flooding along the coast. Portland had its all-time storm tide, posting a record flood water level (records 1912-...
Coastal Flood — Jan 13, 2024
The second severe storm in a week���s time struck the northern New England coastline during the middle of January. An intense and rapidly deepening area of low pressure over the Great Lakes region (979 mb) combined the highest astronomical tides of the month to produce extreme flooding along the coast. Portland had its all-time storm tide, posting a record flood water level (records 1912-...
Flash Flood — Mar 10, 2024
A multifaceted storm brought strong winds and heavy rain to the coast, and heavy snow to the mountains on March 10th. A period of heavy rain between daybreak and noon caused excessive runoff and flash flooding in parts of Cumberland County where rainfall totals exceeded 3 inches. Elsewhere, the rain and snowmelt combination resulted in minor river flooding and nuisance overland standing water....
Flood — Mar 10, 2024
A multifaceted storm brought strong winds and heavy rain to the coast, and heavy snow to the mountains on March 10th. A period of heavy rain between daybreak and noon caused excessive runoff and flash flooding in parts of Cumberland County where rainfall totals exceeded 3 inches. Elsewhere, the rain and snowmelt combination resulted in minor river flooding and nuisance overland standing water....
Coastal Flood — Mar 10, 2024
A multifaceted storm brought strong winds and heavy rain to the coast, and heavy snow to the mountains on March 10th. A period of heavy rain between daybreak and noon caused excessive runoff and flash flooding in parts of Cumberland County where rainfall totals exceeded 3 inches. Elsewhere, the rain and snowmelt combination resulted in minor river flooding and nuisance overland standing water....
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Cumberland County, Maine:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Cumberland County, Maine that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.