Natural hazards · Indian Head

Indian Head, MD natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Indian Head comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2011. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Indian Head?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Indian Head to be higher than in 3% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding42%Heat waves15%Strong wind12%Hurricanes9%Earthquakes8%Lightning6%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Indian Head faces

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

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 5% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Heat waves

15% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 50% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Strong wind

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 70% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 12 years in the area

Earthquakes

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 55% of U.S. places

Lightning

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 51% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireLandslidesDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Indian Head flood?

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

2paid claims since 2011

$28Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20112026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Bill: 1 claim, $6K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Charles County.

Disasters that hit Indian Head

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Indian HeadDeclared for Charles County only

2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$24K to the Town of Indian Head for repairs

2012

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

$21K to the Town of Indian Head for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

$73K to the Town of Indian Head for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms

$13K to the Town of Indian Head for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$11K to the Town of Indian Head for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

10 households applied for aid $6K aid approved $16K to the Town of Indian Head for repairs

2003

Snow

$3K to the Town of Indian Head for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Storm

$4K to the Town of Indian Head for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$785 to the Town of Indian Head for repairs

Charles County has had 20 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and hurricanes.

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. Indian Head covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Indian Head’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Indian Head. 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 Indian Head total about $438K 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.

Indian Head, MD natural hazards

How exposed is Indian Head?

What Indian Head faces

Inland flooding

Heat waves

Strong wind

Hurricanes

Earthquakes

Lightning

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Indian Head flood?

Biggest named events

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

Hurricane Isabel

Snow

Severe Winter Storm

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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