Calvert County, MD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Calvert County has experienced 24 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Calvert County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, landslide, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 61% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (1st percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Calvert County has been designated in 24 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (8), snowstorm (6), severe storm (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| 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 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 24 total declarations since 1972.
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 | 52.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 28.9 | 27 | 0 | $5K |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | 59.4 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 50.1 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 68.5 | 37 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 17.3 | 2 | 0 | $250K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 81.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 27.8 | 14 | 0 | $100K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 48.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 53.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 39.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 26.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 59.7 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 67 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 69.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Calvert County ranks in the 1st percentile (Very low) 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 | 1st | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 1st | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 3rd | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 60th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 2nd | Very low |
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 | 48th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 48th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 84.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 86 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 62 in 2016–20 vs 24 in 2021–25 (-61% — 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 Calvert County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Calvert County, Maryland are hurricane, landslide, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Calvert County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Calvert County has received 24 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (8 declarations).
Has Calvert County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Calvert County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Calvert County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Prince George's County, MD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Westmoreland County, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Calvert County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Calvert County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Calvert 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. Calvert County's composite score of 29 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 29% of US counties.