riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Piscataquis County Disaster Risk

Piscataquis County, Maine

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

52th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#10

of 16 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

35th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 35% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 9% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 41% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Piscataquis County

Risk Verdict

Piscataquis County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 52th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Piscataquis County, scoring in the 76th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 41th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (35th), wildfire (9th), tornado (9th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Piscataquis County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Piscataquis County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Maine. Its composite risk score is within 4.4 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Maine as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Piscataquis County, ME?
Piscataquis County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 52th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Piscataquis County?
Piscataquis County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (76th percentile), earthquake (41th percentile), flooding (35th percentile), wildfire (9th percentile), tornado (9th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 76th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Piscataquis County risk compare to the Maine average?
Piscataquis County's composite risk percentile is 52th, compared to the Maine state average of 57th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Piscataquis County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Maine.
Is Piscataquis County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Piscataquis County's hurricane risk is at the 76th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Piscataquis County is at the 35th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Piscataquis County a safe place to live?
Piscataquis County's composite risk score of 52th percentile is below the Maine state average of 57th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 76th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Hancock County

Maine

+2.7

Relatively Low

55th percentile

Washington County

Maine

-4.8

Relatively Low

48th percentile

Androscoggin County

Maine

+6.7

Relatively Low

59th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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