Howard County, MD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Howard County has experienced 22 federally declared disasters since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Howard County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, heat wave, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 71% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (15th 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. Howard County has been designated in 22 declarations since 1971, covering 6 disaster types including flood (6), snowstorm (5), hurricane (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 |
| 2016 | Flood | Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 2014 | Severe Storm | Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Flood | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
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 | 15.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 78.1 | 81 | 3 | $32.9M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 20.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 77.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 89.3 | 18 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 42.2 | 7 | 0 | $3.3M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 81.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 71.9 | 13 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 89 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 92.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 59.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 53.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 84.1 | 1 | 0 | $5K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 75 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 52.1 | 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
Howard County ranks in the 15th 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 | 15th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 3rd | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 48th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 88th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 17th | 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 | 11th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 11th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 62.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 119 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 92 in 2016–20 vs 27 in 2021–25 (-71% — 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 Howard County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Howard County, Maryland are winter weather, heat wave, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Howard County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Howard County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is flood (6 declarations).
Has Howard County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Howard County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1971.
How does Howard County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, District of Columbia, DC has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Carroll County, MD has the lowest (Relatively Low). Howard County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Howard County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Howard 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. Howard County's composite score of 72 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 72% of US counties.