Kennebec County, ME
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Kennebec County has experienced 25 federally declared disasters since 1970, most recently Severe Storm And Flooding in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Kennebec County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, ice storm, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 44 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Kennebec County has been designated in 25 declarations since 1970, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (9), flood (6), hurricane (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 2023 | Flood | Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 2023 | Hurricane | Hurricane Lee |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 2007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Inland And Coastal Flooding |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, And Ice Jams |
| 2005 | Snowstorm | Record And/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 total declarations since 1970.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 33.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 80.1 | 35 | 0 | $1.2M |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | 54.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 76 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 38.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 25.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 87.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 60.5 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 97.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 97 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 43.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 87.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 76.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 72 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 9.8 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Kennebec County ranks in the 36th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 36th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 29th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 29th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 13th | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 71st | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 4th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 4th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 75.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 44 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 22 in 2016–20 vs 22 in 2021–25 (0% — relatively stable).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Kennebec County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Kennebec County, Maine are winter weather, ice storm, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Kennebec County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Kennebec County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1970, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (9 declarations).
Has Kennebec County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Kennebec County include Severe Storm And Flooding (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1970.
How does Kennebec County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Oxford County, ME has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Sagadahoc County, ME has the lowest (Very Low). Kennebec County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Kennebec County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Kennebec County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Kennebec County's composite score of 75 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 75% of US counties.