Natural hazards · Maryland

Maryland, NY natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Maryland comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 18 claims here since 2006. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Maryland?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Maryland to be higher than in 73% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding79%Cold waves14%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Maryland faces

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

Inland flooding

79% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

14% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtTsunamisVolcanic 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 Maryland flood?

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

18paid claims since 2006

$279Kpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

20062026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Lee: 9 claims, $168K
Hurricane Irene: 1 claim, $12K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Otsego County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Maryland

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into MarylandDeclared for Otsego County only

2017

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$17K to the Town of Maryland for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

14 households applied for aid $10K aid approved $47K to the Town of Maryland for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

5 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

52 households applied for aid $90K aid approved $530K to the Town of Maryland for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

$7K to the Town of Maryland for repairs

2002

Snowstorms

$18K to the Town of Maryland for repairs

Otsego County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Maryland

Maryland and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Worcestermostly inland floodingVery high

Milfordmostly inland floodingHigh

Marylandmostly inland floodingHigh

Davenportmostly inland floodingHigh

Westfordmostly inland floodingHigh

Harpersfieldmostly inland floodingModerate

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. Maryland covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Maryland’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Maryland. 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 Maryland total about $996K 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.