Talbot County, MD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Talbot County has experienced 20 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.
Talbot County's highest-rated hazards are drought, hurricane, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 30 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Talbot County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1972, covering 6 disaster types including hurricane (7), snowstorm (6), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
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 | 71.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 28 | 9 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 70.6 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 58.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 81.7 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 31.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 83.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 16.6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 47.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 57.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 43.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 41 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 64 | 6 | 0 | $21K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 85.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 16.8 | 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
Talbot County ranks in the 33rd 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 | 33rd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 19th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 79th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 59th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 23rd | 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 | 43rd | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 44th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 57.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 30 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 14 in 2016–20 vs 16 in 2021–25 (+14% — 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 Talbot County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Talbot County, Maryland are drought, hurricane, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Talbot County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Talbot 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 Talbot County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Talbot County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Talbot County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Anne Arundel County, MD has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Kent County, MD has the lowest (Very Low). Talbot County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Talbot County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Talbot 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. Talbot County's composite score of 42 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 42% of US counties.