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Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
5th of 24highest risk in Maryland
$75Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 40homes with flood insurance
Photo: Diiscool, CC0

Anne Arundel County, Maryland has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 82% of US counties. It ranks 5th of 24 counties in Maryland. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $75 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $127 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 40 homes here carry federal flood insurance (4,442 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $53 million on 2,825 claims here, including $43 million for floods in 2003.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Anne Arundel County

$33.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Hurricane

Moderate
$8.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.

Heat wave

Moderate
$7.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate80.9
$33M
HurricaneModerate87.2
$8M
Heat waveModerate93.2
$7M
TornadoModerate82.0
$7M
EarthquakeLow83.2
$4M
Strong windHigh91.1
$4M
Cold waveModerate66.3
$3M
LightningHigh93.9
$3M
Coastal floodingModerate73.2
$2M
Winter weatherHigh95.9
$1M
HailModerate74.1
$1M
DroughtModerate74.0
$1M
Ice stormModerate67.4
$309K
WildfireVery Low35.9
$33K
LandslideLow79.1
$23K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Anne Arundel County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm7
Hurricane6
Flood4
Severe Storm3
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 4, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Nov 20, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Oct 5, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
May 6, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Show all 21
Mar 14, 2003SnowEmergency
Apr 10, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disaster
Jan 11, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 16, 1994Severe Winter Weather and Ice StormsMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergency
Sep 14, 1979Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1977Ice ConditionsMajor disaster
Oct 4, 1975Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster
Aug 17, 1971Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Maryland also had 1 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 983 storm reports in Anne Arundel County since 1953, with 7 deaths and 56 injuries and about $29.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 9, 1961.

29tornadoes
98hail reports, largest 2 inches
619damaging thunderstorm winds
173floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 9, 1961F3–0 / 0
Sep 1, 2021EF2Owensville0 / 0
Sep 28, 2006F1Severna Park0 / 0
Aug 14, 1976F1–0 / 0
Oct 5, 1995F1Odenton To0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 28, 2006TornadoSeverna Park$6M
Aug 12, 2014Flash FloodFernglen Manor$3M
Jul 28, 2026TornadoSt Margarets$3M
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$2M
Jul 2, 2006Thunderstorm WindCape St Claire$2M
Sep 6, 1996Storm Surge/TideAlong The Chesapeake$1M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1863, 1 hurricane and 19 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Anne Arundel County, 8 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 95 mph about 50 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
19tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph50 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph52 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph56 mi
Sep 18, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph53 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph52 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph58 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Sep 26, 1992DanielleTropical storm, 45 mph59 mi
Jun 3, 1963UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 45 mph61 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Anne Arundel County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.5%of homes have federal flood insurance (4,442 policies)
113.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$53.1 millionpaid on 2,825 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $43.2 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Anne Arundel County

$467,900median home value (Maryland $419,900, US $332,700)
1983median year homes were built (Maryland 1979, US 1980)
45%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.2%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 236,262 housing units.

Compare in Maryland

All 24 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Montgomery CountyModerateInland flooding
Prince George's CountyModerateInland flooding
Baltimore CountyModerateInland flooding
Anne Arundel CountyModerateInland flooding
Baltimore CityHighInland flooding
Howard CountyLowInland flooding
Frederick CountyLowInland flooding
Harford CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Prince George's CountyModerate17
Baltimore CountyModerate22
Baltimore CityHigh20
Howard CountyLow20
Calvert CountyVery Low22
Queen Anne's CountyVery Low16
Talbot CountyVery Low18
Kent CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Anne Arundel County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Anne Arundel County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Anne Arundel County, about $33.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $8.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Anne Arundel County had?

Anne Arundel County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Anne Arundel County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 5th highest of 24 in Maryland. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Anne Arundel County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 40 homes in Anne Arundel County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Anne Arundel County had?

NOAA records list 29 tornadoes in Anne Arundel County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 9, 1961. The weather service has also logged 98 hail reports and 173 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Anne Arundel County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 19 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Anne Arundel County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 95 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.