Garrett County, MD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Garrett County has experienced 14 federally declared disasters since 1993, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Garrett County's highest-rated hazards are landslide, winter weather, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 88% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (26th 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. Garrett County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1993, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (5), snowstorm (4), biological (2).
| 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 |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Severe Storm | Snow |
| 2003 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 total declarations since 1993.
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 | 31.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 34.7 | 38 | 0 | $14K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 32.4 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 3.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 21.2 | 2 | 0 | $1.5M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 63.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 48.3 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 31.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 64.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 20.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 29.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 39.6 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 56.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 77.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 55.8 | — | — | — |
| 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
Garrett County ranks in the 26th percentile (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 | 26th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 24th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 3rd | Very low |
| Housing type & transportation | 44th | 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 | 39th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 40th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 90.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 49 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 17 in 2016–20 vs 32 in 2021–25 (+88% — 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 Garrett County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Garrett County, Maryland are landslide, winter weather, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Garrett County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Garrett County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1993, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (5 declarations).
Has Garrett County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Garrett County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1993.
How does Garrett County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Fayette County, PA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Grant County, WV has the lowest (Very Low). Garrett County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Garrett County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Garrett 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. Garrett County's composite score of 16 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 16% of US counties.