Natural Disasters in Maryland: History & Risk Data
21,471 recorded disaster events across 450 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in Maryland
📊 Maryland Disaster Profile
Maryland has experienced 21,471 documented natural disaster events across its 450 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $7.7B. A total of 3,274 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Hailstorms lead Maryland's disaster profile with 11,023 events (51%), causing $16.8M in property damage. Other significant hazards include floods (2,540 events, $2.8B in damages), tornadoes (2,082 events, $3.6B in damages), and blizzards (2,026 events, $330.8M in damages). Maryland has no recorded hurricanes and wildfires in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in Maryland include ZIP 21206 (136 events, $10.9M in damages), ZIP 21237 (135 events, $10.4M in damages), and ZIP 20854 (129 events, $40.8M in damages).
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in Maryland has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 1048% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2010 stands out as particularly active, with 1,321 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Maryland
What natural disasters occur in Maryland?
Maryland has experienced 21,471 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (11,023), floods (2,540), tornadoes (2,082), blizzards (2,026), severe wind events (1,917), extreme heat events (1,542), extreme cold events (328), and earthquakes (13). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 51% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in Maryland?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Maryland are ZIP 21206 (136 events), ZIP 21237 (135 events), ZIP 20854 (129 events), ZIP 21224 (126 events), and ZIP 21226 (122 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in Maryland?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $7.7B in property damage across Maryland. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →