Montgomery County, MD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Montgomery County has experienced 21 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.
Montgomery County's highest-rated hazards are winter weather, heat wave, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 42% 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. Montgomery County has been designated in 21 declarations since 1971, covering 6 disaster types including snowstorm (5), hurricane (5), severe storm (5).
| 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 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 21 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 | 25.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 93.7 | 296 | 1 | $1.3M |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | 19.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 91.8 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 97 | 23 | 1 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 78.7 | 7 | 0 | $6.4M |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 91.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively High | 94.5 | 55 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 96.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 99.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 70.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 86.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 91.6 | 9 | 0 | $3.4M |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 81.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 75.1 | 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
Montgomery County ranks in the 49th 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 | 49th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 27th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 44th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 91st | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 62nd | 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 | 11th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 11th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 45.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 390 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 247 in 2016–20 vs 143 in 2021–25 (-42% — 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 Montgomery County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Montgomery County, Maryland are winter weather, heat wave, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Montgomery County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Montgomery County has received 21 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is snowstorm (5 declarations).
Has Montgomery County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Montgomery County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1971.
How does Montgomery 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 Falls Church, VA has the lowest (Very Low). Montgomery County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Montgomery County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Montgomery 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. Montgomery County's composite score of 92 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 92% of US counties.