Natural hazards · Ridgely

Ridgely, MD natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Ridgely comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Ridgely?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Ridgely to be higher than in 35% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes37%Inland flooding21%Drought14%Strong wind8%Cold waves7%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Ridgely faces

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

Hurricanes

37% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 8 years in the area

Inland flooding

21% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 8% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Drought

14% of expected damage

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Strong wind

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

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 Ridgely flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Ridgely.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Caroline County.

Disasters that hit Ridgely

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RidgelyDeclared for Caroline County only

2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$9K to the Town of Ridgely for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

$24K to the Town of Ridgely for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$9K to the Town of Ridgely for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms

$5K to the Town of Ridgely for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$3K to the Town of Ridgely for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

2 households applied for aid $797 aid approved $6K to the Town of Ridgely for repairs

2003

Snow

$4K to the Town of Ridgely for repairs

Caroline County has had 17 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. Ridgely covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Ridgely’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Ridgely. 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 Ridgely total about $1.3M 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.

Ridgely, MD natural hazards

How exposed is Ridgely?

What Ridgely faces

Hurricanes

Inland flooding

Drought

Strong wind

Cold waves

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Ridgely flood?

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Irene

Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

Hurricane Isabel

Snow

How to read this page

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