Dorchester County, MD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Dorchester County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Dorchester County's highest-rated hazards are coastal flooding, hurricane, and wildfire, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 360% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (78th 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. Dorchester County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1972, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (7), snowstorm (5), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 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 | Relatively Low | 83.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 21.6 | 18 | 0 | $1K |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively High | 91.2 | 47 | 0 | $1.3M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 53.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 63 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 31 | 3 | 0 | $95K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 85.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 8.4 | 14 | 0 | $3K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 44.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 44.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 45.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 44.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 37 | 1 | 0 | $5K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 81.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 10.7 | 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
Dorchester County ranks in the 78th 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 | 78th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 68th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 95th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 77th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 48th | 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 | 84th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 86th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 56.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 84 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 15 in 2016–20 vs 69 in 2021–25 (+360% — frequency increasing).
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 Dorchester County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Dorchester County, Maryland are coastal flooding, hurricane, and wildfire. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Dorchester County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Dorchester County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (7 declarations).
Has Dorchester County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Dorchester County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Dorchester County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Wicomico County, MD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Calvert County, MD has the lowest (Very Low). Dorchester County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Dorchester County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Dorchester 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. Dorchester County's composite score of 54 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 54% of US counties.