Worcester County, MD
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Worcester County has experienced 14 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.
Worcester County's highest-rated hazards are hurricane, coastal flooding, and winter weather, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 37% 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. Worcester County has been designated in 14 declarations since 1972, covering 5 disaster types including hurricane (6), 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 |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isabel |
Showing the 10 most recent of 14 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 | 65.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 50.1 | 24 | 0 | $500K |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively High | 88 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 49.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 56.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 16.1 | 4 | 0 | $260K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 92 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 11.9 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 32.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 74.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 57.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 70 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 39.5 | 4 | 0 | $30K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 65.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 15.7 | 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
Worcester County ranks in the 43rd 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 | 43rd | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 39th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 37th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 54th | Moderate |
| 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 | 55th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 56th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 44.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 39 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 24 in 2016–20 vs 15 in 2021–25 (-37% — 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 Worcester County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Worcester County, Maryland are hurricane, coastal flooding, and winter weather. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Worcester County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Worcester County has received 14 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Worcester County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Worcester County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1972.
How does Worcester County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Sussex County, DE has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Caroline County, MD has the lowest (Relatively Low). Worcester County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Worcester County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Worcester 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. Worcester County's composite score of 68 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 68% of US counties.