Baltimore County, MD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Baltimore County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Baltimore County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, heat wave, and lightning, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 23% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Baltimore County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1971, covering 6 disaster types including snowstorm (6), hurricane (6), flood (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Flood | Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Flood | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 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 | 39.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 93.9 | 266 | 0 | $9.8M |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 73.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 92.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 99.2 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 80.4 | 8 | 0 | $16.3M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 92.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 86 | 42 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 95.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 99.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 69.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 89.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very High | 98 | 3 | 1 | $2K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 82.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 74.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 9.9 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| 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 County ranks in the 56th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 56th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 37th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 51st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 84th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 67th | Moderate |
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 | 10th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 40.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 332 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 188 in 2016–20 vs 144 in 2021–25 (-23% — 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 County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Baltimore County, Maryland are winter weather, heat wave, and lightning. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Baltimore County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Baltimore County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is snowstorm (6 declarations).
Has Baltimore County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Baltimore County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1971.
How does Baltimore County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Baltimore, MD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Kent County, MD has the lowest (Very Low). Baltimore County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Baltimore County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Baltimore County'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 County's composite score of 94 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 94% of US counties.