Bangor, Maine Flood Zones
Bangor sits along the Penobscot River and faces riverine flooding from spring snowmelt and heavy rain. The city's location at the head of tide makes it vulnerable to both riverine and tidal flood influences.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Penobscot County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $24.1M
Coastal Flood Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $22K
Hurricane Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $5.0M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Penobscot County
Penobscot County has been included in 8 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
These declarations affected communities across Penobscot County, including Bangor.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Penobscot County
Properties in Penobscot County have filed 238 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.7M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $7K.
Highest-Claim Years
1987
64 claims - $916K
2008
28 claims - $313K
1983
21 claims - $64K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
94
Zone X
60
Zone AE
39
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Bangor
Properties in Bangor, ME are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Bangor
Bangor faces multiple inland flood threats, including riverine flooding from nearby waterways and flash flooding from intense rainfall overwhelming urban drainage systems. Properties near river corridors face the highest risk, but stormwater backup can affect neighborhoods well outside the mapped floodplain. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Bangor are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $24.1M.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in Bangor depend heavily on a property's elevation relative to nearby waterways and the local drainage infrastructure. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 prices in multiple inland flood sources rather than relying on the flood zone line alone. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Flood zone boundaries in Bangor can shift when FEMA updates its Flood Insurance Studies or when upstream development changes how water moves through the watershed. New stormwater infrastructure or dam modifications can also trigger map revisions. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Bangor address.
Check Your Bangor Address
Enter any Bangor, ME address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupBangor, ME Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Bangor, ME?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Bangor are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Bangor?
If your Bangor property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Bangor?
Enter your Bangor address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
What type of flooding affects Bangor?
Bangor is primarily affected by river overflow combined with urban drainage challenges. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Bangor address.
Has Bangor experienced major flooding events?
Penobscot County, where Bangor is located, has been part of 8 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Lee in 2023. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Bangor?
Penobscot County has recorded 238 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $1.7M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1987, with 64 claims and $916K in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Bangor.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026