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Prince George's County, Maryland

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
3rd of 24highest risk in Maryland
$122Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Prince George's County, Maryland has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 93% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 24 counties in Maryland. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $122 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $126 per resident. Since 1971 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,249 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.9 million on 1,158 claims here.

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

Top risks in Prince George's County

$65.1 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.
$11.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
$11 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh94.6
$65M
Heat waveHigh97.8
$12M
TornadoHigh95.1
$11M
HurricaneModerate92.2
$11M
EarthquakeModerate93.2
$8M
LightningVery High98.8
$4M
Strong windHigh95.8
$3M
Cold waveModerate77.8
$3M
Winter weatherVery High99.1
$2M
HailModerate90.4
$2M
DroughtModerate83.5
$1M
Ice stormModerate80.6
$392K
Coastal floodingLow49.4
$106K
LandslideModerate91.1
$59K
WildfireVery Low42.3
$27K

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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Prince George's County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm5
Hurricane5
Flood4
Severe Storm2
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
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 19, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2003SnowEmergency
Show all 17
Apr 10, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor 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
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 977 storm reports in Prince George's County since 1953, with 4 deaths and 77 injuries and about $124 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on September 24, 2001 near Hyattsville.

26tornadoes
105hail reports, largest 2 inches
585damaging thunderstorm winds
216floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Sep 24, 2001F3Hyattsville55 / 2
Oct 5, 1995F2Temple Hills3 / 0
Sep 12, 1971F2–0 / 0
Nov 23, 1992F1–0 / 0
May 18, 1995F1Cheverly2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 24, 2001TornadoHyattsville$100M
Oct 5, 1995TornadoTemple Hills$5M
Nov 23, 1992Tornado–$3M
Jun 25, 2006Flash FloodCountywide$3M
May 18, 1995TornadoCheverly$2M
Jul 12, 2022Thunderstorm WindBranchville$2M

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 1872, 1 hurricane and 18 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Prince George's County, 8 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 95 mph about 31 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
18tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph31 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph54 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph50 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph45 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph45 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph54 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph64 mi
Sep 26, 1992DanielleTropical storm, 45 mph62 mi
Jun 3, 1963UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph56 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 45 mph57 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 Prince George's County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (2,249 policies)
102.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7.9 millionpaid on 1,158 flood claims since 1978
2020costliest year, with $2.1 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 Prince George's County

$426,000median home value (Maryland $419,900, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (Maryland 1979, US 1980)
54%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.6%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; 365,506 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
Fairfax County, VAHigh17
Montgomery CountyModerate19
District of Columbia, DCHigh18
Anne Arundel CountyModerate21
Howard CountyLow20
Charles CountyLow22
Alexandria City, VALow20
Calvert CountyVery Low22

Common questions about Prince George's County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Prince George's County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Prince George's County, about $65.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $11.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Prince George's County had?

Prince George's County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1971, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Prince George's County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 3rd 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 Prince George's County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Prince George's 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 Prince George's County had?

NOAA records list 26 tornadoes in Prince George's County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on September 24, 2001 near Hyattsville. The weather service has also logged 105 hail reports and 216 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Prince George's County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 18 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Prince George's 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.