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Calvert County, Maryland

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

Very Low overall risk
22nd of 24highest risk in Maryland
$16Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 50homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Calvert County, Maryland has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 71% of US counties. It ranks 22nd of 24 counties in Maryland. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $16 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $172 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 50 homes here carry federal flood insurance (699 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $9.6 million on 559 claims here, including $7.1 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 Calvert County

$5.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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
$4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 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.
$1.5 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 floodingVery Low28.9
$6M
HurricaneModerate81.7
$4M
Heat waveLow68.5
$1M
Strong windLow48.6
$894K
Coastal floodingLow59.4
$754K
DroughtModerate67.0
$725K
Cold waveLow26.6
$603K
LightningModerate59.7
$559K
EarthquakeVery Low50.1
$467K
TornadoVery Low17.3
$315K
HailVery Low27.8
$183K
Winter weatherLow53.2
$121K
WildfireVery Low52.6
$91K
Ice stormLow39.6
$88K
LandslideLow69.2
$9K

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 Calvert County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane8
Snowstorm6
Severe Storm4
Flood2
Tornado1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Feb 4, 2021Tropical Storm IsaiasMajor disaster
Mar 4, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Nov 20, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Aug 2, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 16, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
May 6, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Show all 22
Sep 19, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003SnowEmergency
May 1, 2002TornadoMajor disaster
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

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

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 457 storm reports in Calvert County since 1960, with 3 deaths and 5 injuries and about $16.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 28, 2002 near Bowens.

19tornadoes
49hail reports, largest 3 inches
312damaging thunderstorm winds
50floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 28, 2002F2Bowens0 / 2
Jun 27, 1978F2–0 / 0
Oct 13, 1983F2–0 / 0
Sep 5, 1979F1–1 / 0
Apr 21, 2000F1Dunkirk0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 28, 2002TornadoBowens$10M
Jul 4, 2026Thunderstorm WindStoakley$1M
Sep 6, 1996Storm Surge/TideAlong The Chesapeake$750K
Nov 1, 1994Thunderstorm WindPrince Frederick$500K
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$500K
Jun 4, 2008TornadoParis$400K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 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 1859, 1 hurricane and 26 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Calvert County, 10 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 95 mph about 54 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
26tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 2, 95 mph54 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph53 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph51 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph53 mi
Sep 25, 1992DanielleTropical storm, 55 mph62 mi
Sep 30, 1983DeanTropical storm, 45 mph65 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 Calvert County

Check your address flood zone ›
2%of homes have federal flood insurance (699 policies)
63.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$9.6 millionpaid on 559 flood claims since 1978
2003costliest year, with $7.1 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 Calvert County

$460,200median home value (Maryland $419,900, US $332,700)
1990median year homes were built (Maryland 1979, US 1980)
32%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.9%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; 36,119 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
Anne Arundel CountyModerate21
Charles CountyLow22
St. Mary's CountyVery Low16
Talbot CountyVery Low18
Dorchester CountyLow18

Common questions about Calvert County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Calvert County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Calvert County, about $5.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $4 million.

How many federal disasters has Calvert County had?

Calvert County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Calvert County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 22nd 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 Calvert County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 50 homes in Calvert 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 Calvert County had?

NOAA records list 19 tornadoes in Calvert County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 28, 2002 near Bowens. The weather service has also logged 49 hail reports and 50 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Calvert County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 26 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Calvert 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.