Maine drought risk
Somerset County has the highest drought risk in Maine, scoring 78.8 out of 100 — rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
| # | County | NRI score | Rating |
NOAA events 2016–2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somerset County | 78.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 2 | Kennebec County | 76.5 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 3 | Androscoggin County | 76.2 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 4 | York County | 65.8 | Relatively Moderate | 0 |
| 5 | Penobscot County | 60.3 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 6 | Hancock County | 57.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 7 | Waldo County | 54.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 8 | Washington County | 48.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 9 | Aroostook County | 42.4 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 10 | Piscataquis County | 42.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 11 | Franklin County | 41.1 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 12 | Cumberland County | 41 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 13 | Oxford County | 40.7 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 14 | Knox County | 35.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 15 | Lincoln County | 32.8 | Relatively Low | 0 |
| 16 | Sagadahoc County | 27.5 | Very Low | 0 |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. Scores are 0–100 percentile rankings among all US counties. See the methodology page for definitions. Download the full CSV for all counties.
Drought risk nationally:
Other hazard risks in Maine:
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest drought risk county in Maine?
Somerset County, ME has the highest drought risk in Maine, with a FEMA National Risk Index score of 78.8 out of 100 (rated "Relatively Moderate").
What causes drought risk in Maine?
Drought risk captures expected annual losses from prolonged precipitation deficits affecting agriculture, water supply, and ecosystems. High scores cover the western Great Plains, Southwest, and California's Central Valley. Climate change is increasing drought frequency and severity across much of the US, with multi-year droughts becoming more common in the West.