Maryland natural disaster risk
Maryland ranks #26 of 51 from the lowest population-weighted county-score mean in our state comparison. Its highest hazard-score means are winter weather, heat wave, hurricane.
RelocateMath computes these state means by weighting FEMA county scores by population. A mean of county percentiles is not a national state percentile or an official FEMA state rating.
The vertical line marks county-score scale midpoint (50).
Find your county's risk in Maryland
All 24 county rows with a FEMA score are available below, initially ordered by population.
| County | Population | Risk score | FEMA rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 1,065,949 | 91.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Prince George's County | 959,754 | 93.2 | Relatively Moderate |
| Baltimore County | 850,796 | 94.0 | Relatively Moderate |
| Anne Arundel County | 598,166 | 81.9 | Relatively Moderate |
| Baltimore city | 573,243 | 95.0 | Relatively High |
| Howard County | 336,328 | 72.4 | Relatively Low |
| Frederick County | 287,048 | 74.2 | Relatively Low |
| Harford County | 263,757 | 72.5 | Relatively Low |
| Carroll County | 175,321 | 59.5 | Relatively Low |
| Charles County | 170,527 | 44.1 | Relatively Low |
| Washington County | 155,709 | 68.8 | Relatively Low |
| St. Mary's County | 115,126 | 42.6 | Very Low |
| Cecil County | 104,960 | 58.6 | Relatively Low |
| Wicomico County | 104,914 | 60.8 | Relatively Low |
| Calvert County | 94,313 | 28.9 | Very Low |
| Allegany County | 67,452 | 58.5 | Relatively Low |
| Worcester County | 53,700 | 68.2 | Relatively Low |
| Queen Anne's County | 51,825 | 35.6 | Very Low |
| Talbot County | 37,917 | 42.4 | Very Low |
| Caroline County | 33,669 | 45.7 | Relatively Low |
| Dorchester County | 32,754 | 53.8 | Relatively Low |
| Garrett County | 28,615 | 16.0 | Very Low |
| Somerset County | 24,822 | 59.6 | Relatively Low |
| Kent County | 19,346 | 27.5 | Very Low |
The county rows show FEMA's own county percentile scores and rating categories; the state figures above are our weighted means. County data cannot establish a property's safety. Expected loss is modeled annual loss per resident, not a premium quote. The insurance figure is what owners with a mortgage reported paying in 2024 (Census American Community Survey), not a current quote. For a specific home, check the address on FEMA's flood map and get insurance quotes before you commit. Our guide explains how to check natural disaster risk before you move.
Lowest FEMA county risk scores in Maryland
- Garrett County 16.0
- Calvert County 28.9
- Queen Anne's County 35.6
- Talbot County 42.4
- St. Mary's County 42.6
- Charles County 44.1
- Caroline County 45.7
- Dorchester County 53.8
Cities in Maryland
- Washington, D.C. county-score mean 82.9
- Philadelphia, PA county-score mean 94.5
- Baltimore, MD county-score mean 84.1
Frequently asked questions
Is Maryland safe from natural disasters?
Maryland's population-weighted county-score mean is 80.9 out of 100 (very high county-score mean), #26 of 51 from the lowest mean in our state comparison. A state average cannot show whether an individual home is safe. About 10% of residents live in counties FEMA rates relatively high or very high.
What natural disasters happen in Maryland?
The highest population-weighted county hazard-score means in Maryland are winter weather, heat wave, hurricane (means 92, 91, 88 on the 0–100 county-score scale). These are not national state percentiles.
Which counties have the lowest modeled risk scores in Maryland?
Among counties with at least 20,000 people, the lowest FEMA county risk scores are in Garrett County, Calvert County, Queen Anne's County. Conditions vary within each county; check an individual address separately.