Enter any address in Kennebec County, Maine to see its FEMA flood zone
River flooding and flash flooding are the dominant flood types in Kennebec County, ME. Between 1994 and 2024, NOAA data recorded 96 flood events and 14 flash flood events. Recent events illustrate these risks, including widespread river flooding and isolated flash flooding in April 2024, driven by rainfall, snowmelt, and saturated ground. In August 2023, heavy rainfall associated with an area of low pressure caused significant flooding across southern interior Maine.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which have the highest average water depth and payout, experience substantial flood impacts. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED also show a high average payout, though with fewer claims and a lower average water depth. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, or those located near rivers and streams, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
38 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Kennebec County, Maine has recorded 111 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 96 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 6 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 | Apr 30, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Inland And Coastal Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 15, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, And Ice Jams | Severe Storm | Mar 29, 2005 |
| Record And/or Near Record Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 10, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 200.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 250.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2023 | 581.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 24, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 23, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 23, 2022 | 15.00K |
Flood — Apr 13, 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...
Flood — Dec 18, 2023
Low pressure began organizing in the Gulf of Mexico on the 16th, setting record low sea level pressures as it traversed the Southeast through the 17th. Strong high pressure over the North Atlantic created a deep southeasterly flow that drew warm air into New England ahead of the approaching storm. By the time precipitation arrived on the evening of the 17th, temperatures were warm enough for ra...
Flash Flood — Aug 8, 2023
An area of low pressure moved northeast from Massachusetts into Maine and New Hampshire on the morning of the 8th. The rainfall intensity increased during peak heating, with the heaviest rainfall from Nashua New Hampshire to Waterville Maine. Rainfall reports were highest across Cumberland and Androscoggin Counties in southern interior Maine ranging between 3 and 5 inches. After a break in the ...
Flood — May 1, 2023
A broad area of low pressure across the Great Lakes region stalled out well to the west of the region early on Sunday, April 30th. A secondary area of low pressure developed and moved up the Eastern Seaboard and tracked across interior New England from Sunday, April 30th through Monday, May 1st. Widespread heavy rainfall occurred, and flooding was enhanced for this weather event due to the sea...
Flood — Dec 24, 2022
Beginning on December 22nd a powerful storm was developing over the Ohio River Valley. On December 23rd the center of the storm was deepening rapidly (974mb) as it lifted through the eastern Great Lakes. While the center tracked into southern Ontario, high pressure retreated into the Canadian Maritimes creating a strong pressure gradient across the region. Strong southerly winds developed as a ...
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 Kennebec 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 Kennebec 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.