Enter any address in Lincoln County, Maine to see its FEMA flood zone
Coastal flooding is a significant concern for Lincoln County, ME, with 13 coastal flood events recorded in the last 30 years, alongside 20 general flood events. Recent examples include coastal flooding on January 10, 2024, and January 13, 2024, the latter of which produced record storm tide levels in Portland due to a combination of intense low pressure and high astronomical tides. Flash flooding has also occurred, as seen on June 24, 2024, with localized events causing road washouts.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A and Zone V have experienced the most claims. Zone V properties have seen particularly high average payouts and water depths, suggesting significant risk from storm surge and wave action. Properties in Zone X also show substantial average payouts and water depths, despite being designated as lower risk. Homeowners in coastal areas, as well as those in or near floodplains and low-lying areas, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
33 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Lincoln County, Maine has recorded 45 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 5 flash floods and 20 river or area floods. The county has received 30 federal disaster declarations, 10 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 Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 9, 2024 |
| 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 |
| Tropical Storm Irene | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Feb 23, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides | Severe Storm | Jun 18, 2009 |
| 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 | Jun 24, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 13, 2024 | 5.00M |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 10, 2024 | 5.00M |
| Tropical Storm | Sep 16, 2023 | — |
| Flood | May 1, 2023 | 100.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2023 | 476.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 1, 2023 | 90.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Dec 23, 2022 | 3.00M |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2020 | 20.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Aug 4, 2020 | — |
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.
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-...
Coastal Flood — Jan 10, 2024
A powerful storm tracked northeast through the Mid Mississippi River Valley on the 9th, rapidly deepening as it approached the southern Great Lakes. Precipitation formed along and ahead of the advancing warm front, which arrived in part of northern New England during the evening of the 9th. High pressure anchored to the north of Maine dammed low level cold air up against the mountains and allow...
Tropical Storm — Sep 16, 2023
Hurricane Lee was a category 1 hurricane as it traveled north through the eastern Gulf of Maine early on Saturday, September 16th, before it was reclassified as Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee during the morning hours. The storm center eventually made landfall near Long Island, Nova Scotia on the evening of September 16th and then again in New Brunswick later on Saturday night. Lee brought numerous w...
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...
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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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.