Baltimore, MD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Baltimore has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Baltimore's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, winter weather, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 28% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (86th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Baltimore has been designated in 22 declarations since 1971, covering 6 disaster types including snowstorm (6), hurricane (6), severe storm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 total declarations since 1971.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 24 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 94.3 | 19 | 0 | $3.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 64 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 93 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 99.4 | 31 | 15 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 95.4 | 5 | 2 | $2.8M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 92.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 88.2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 96.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 97.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 76.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 96.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 92.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 35.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Baltimore ranks in the 86th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 81st | High |
| Household characteristics | 62nd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 97th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 85th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 9th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 8th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 5.1% | — |
NOAA tracked 69 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 40 in 2016–20 vs 29 in 2021–25 (-28% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Baltimore?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Baltimore, Maryland are heat wave, winter weather, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Baltimore received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Baltimore has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is snowstorm (6 declarations).
Has Baltimore had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Baltimore include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1971.
How does Baltimore's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Baltimore County, MD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Kent County, MD has the lowest (Very Low). Baltimore is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Baltimore's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Baltimore's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Baltimore's composite score of 95 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 95% of US counties.