Natural hazards · Falmouth

Falmouth, ME natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Falmouth comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1991. 15 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Falmouth?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Falmouth to be higher than in 23% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding42%Hurricanes25%Ice storms10%Everything else23%

By hazard

What Falmouth faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 14% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

25% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 8 years in the area

Ice storms

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Falmouth flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Falmouth, from FEMA’s records.

6paid claims since 1991

$21Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19912026

Biggest named events

April 2007 Nor'easter: 2 claims, $5K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Falmouth isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Cumberland County.

Disasters that hit Falmouth

15 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Falmouth itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Falmouth.

Brought FEMA money into FalmouthDeclared for Cumberland County only

2024

Severe Winter Storm

$53K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2024

Severe Storms and Flooding

13 households applied for aid $53K aid approved $52K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2017

Severe Storm and Flooding

$161K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2015

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$40K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$44K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm

$37K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$31K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

41 households applied for aid $18K aid approved $135K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2005

Record Snow

$27K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2005

Snow

$20K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2005

Record And/Or Near Record Snow

$69K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2003

Snow

$19K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2002

Severe Winter Cold and Frost

$6K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

2001

Snow

$35K to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$868 to the Town of Falmouth for repairs

Cumberland County has had 33 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Falmouth

Falmouth and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Westbrookmostly inland floodingModerate

Long Islandmostly coastal floodingLow

Cumberlandmostly inland floodingLow

Windhammostly inland floodingLow

Falmouthmostly inland floodingLow

Portlandmostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Falmouth covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Falmouth’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Falmouth. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Falmouth total about $3.2M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.