Natural hazards · Vinalhaven

Vinalhaven, ME natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Vinalhaven comes from coastal flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1984. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Vinalhaven?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Vinalhaven to be higher than in 47% of U.S. communities, mostly from coastal flooding and hurricanes.

Coastal flooding38%Hurricanes25%Inland flooding17%Ice storms8%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Vinalhaven faces

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

Coastal flooding

38% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

25% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 11 years in the area

Inland flooding

17% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Ice storms

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailWinter 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 Vinalhaven flood?

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

4paid claims since 1984

$47Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19842026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Knox County.

Disasters that hit Vinalhaven

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into VinalhavenDeclared for Knox County only

2024

Severe Storms and Flooding

17 households applied for aid $17K aid approved $64K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

2021

Severe Storm and Flooding

$6K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

2017

Severe Storm and Flooding

$6K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$16K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm

$4K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

2008

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$26K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

3 households applied for aid $7K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

2007

Flooding

$4K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

2005

Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow Melt, and Ice Jams

$30K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

2005

Record And/Or Near Record Snow

$6K to the Town of Vinalhaven for repairs

Knox County has had 26 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Vinalhaven

Vinalhaven and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Vinalhavenmostly coastal floodingModerate

North Havenmostly coastal floodingModerate

Isle au Hautmostly coastal floodingModerate

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. Vinalhaven covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Vinalhaven’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Vinalhaven. 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 Vinalhaven total about $954K 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.