How Likely Is a Tornado in Washington County, ME?
Washington County, ME: what NOAA's tornado record says
Washington County has recorded 6 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 12.7 years - our Minimal band. Put another way: Washington County sees more tornado activity than 19% of US counties. Maine has 16 counties in this dataset; Washington County ranks 8 of them by frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
5 weak and 1 significant tornadoes make up Washington County's 6-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Washington County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Maine has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Maine this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Power loss after a tornado outbreak in Maine often reaches homes the storm itself never touched. A battery-backup unit covers the outage without the fuel and venting a generator needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Washington County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 2,563 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Washington County has about 31,383 residents.