Enter any address in Franklin County, Maine to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is a significant flood character in Franklin County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 52 flash flood events, alongside 58 general flood events and 4 tropical storm events. For example, on July 10, 2024, heavy rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl caused significant runoff and flooding in the region. Another event on March 17, 2025, saw ice jam flooding along the Carrabassett River in Kingfield, inundating properties.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $22,292 and an average water depth of 4.8 feet. Properties in Zone X also show substantial claim payouts, averaging $20,926 with an average water depth of 1.3 feet, despite fewer claims. Residents in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and Zone X_SHADED, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
81 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Franklin County, Maine has recorded 114 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 52 flash floods and 58 river or area floods. The county has received 85 federal disaster declarations, 8 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1970–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 17, 2023 |
| Hurricane Lee | Hurricane | Sep 15, 2023 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | Jun 29, 2023 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | Apr 30, 2023 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2022 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2017 |
| Tropical Storm Irene | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides | Severe Storm | Jun 18, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Mar 17, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 12, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 12, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2023 | 6.50M |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 19, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 500.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 10.00K |
Flood — Mar 17, 2025
The combination of rain and snowmelt runoff on March 17 was sufficient to produce ice jam flooding along various rivers in the Western Maine Mountains. Most of the ice remained within the streambanks, with the exception of the Carrabassett River. An ice jam on the Carrabassett River in Kingfield resulted in flooding of properties.
Flash Flood — Jun 24, 2024
A cold front stalled over the region with an area of low-pressure riding along it, becoming a focal point for shower and thunderstorm development. The steering winds were under 5 miles per hour, allowing storms to stall. This resulted in localized flash flooding in Chesterville and China Maine with road washouts in each community.
Flood — Apr 12, 2024
A cold front brought widespread soaking rainfall to the area. This rainfall combined with significant snowpack loss and saturated grounds to produce minor to moderate river flooding, with isolated flash flooding across the mountains. Repeated rounds of rain compressed, warmed, and ripened the area snowpack in advance of the heavier rain on Friday the 12th. The combination of rain, strong winds...
Flash Flood — Apr 12, 2024
A cold front brought widespread soaking rainfall to the area. This rainfall combined with significant snowpack loss and saturated grounds to produce minor to moderate river flooding, with isolated flash flooding across the mountains. Repeated rounds of rain compressed, warmed, and ripened the area snowpack in advance of the heavier rain on Friday the 12th. The combination of rain, strong winds...
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2024
On July 10th the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl phased with a low pressure system out of the Great Lakes to bring multiple rounds of heavy rainfall to northern New England, including Maine and New Hampshire. The previous 3 days had brought a swatch of heavy rain just north of the White Mountains, saturating the ground and making it ideal for runoff. During the roughly 36 hour period, 3 to as ...
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 Franklin 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 Franklin 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.