West River, MD (ZIP 20778) has a moderate disaster history with 29 recorded events. These include 10 extreme heat events, 8 blizzards, and 5 hailstorms. Total documented property damage amounts to $2.5M. These events have resulted in 7 recorded deaths and 62 injuries.
The dominant hazard type for West River is extreme heat events, with 10 recorded events making up 34% of the area's disaster history. Of these, 5 (50%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for heat-related events here is 5/5 (extreme). Heat-related events have caused a combined $10K in documented property damage. 5 fatalities have been attributed to extreme heat events in this area. The most recent recorded extreme heat event occurred on Jul 17, 2018.
West River has experienced 8 blizzards on record. Of these, 2 (25%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for winter storm events here is 5/5 (extreme). Winter storm events have caused a combined $2.2M in documented property damage. 2 fatalities have been attributed to blizzards in this area. The most recent recorded blizzard occurred on Feb 5, 2010.
West River has experienced 5 hailstorms on record. The most recent recorded hailstorm occurred on Jun 30, 2024.
West River has experienced 3 severe wind events on record. Wind-related events have caused a combined $210K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded severe wind event occurred on Jul 1, 2021.
West River has experienced 2 floods on record. Of these, 2 (100%) were rated at severity level 4 or 5 — the most intense on the normalized scale. The highest recorded severity for flood-related events here is 4/5 (severe). Flood-related events have caused a combined $130K in documented property damage. The most recent recorded flood occurred on Jan 9, 2024.
West River has experienced 1 tornado on record. The most recent recorded tornado occurred on Sep 1, 2021.
The most significant disaster event on record for West River was Winter Storm on Feb 14, 2003, which caused $2M in property damage. Another major event was Heavy Snow (Feb 12, 2006), causing $150K in damages.
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Based on federal and state records, ZIP code 20778 has experienced 29 natural disaster events. The hazard types affecting this area include extreme heat events (10 events), blizzards (8 events), hailstorms (5 events), severe wind events (3 events), floods (2 events), and tornado (1 event). The primary hazard is extreme heat events, which account for 34% of all recorded events.
Extreme heat events are the most frequently recorded hazard in West River, MD, with 10 events documented. These events have caused a combined $10K in property damage.
Yes, West River (ZIP 20778) has 2 recorded flood events. These floods have caused $130K in total property damage. The most recent flood on record occurred on Jan 9, 2024.
West River has 1 recorded tornado event in the historical record. The strongest tornado recorded reached severity level 3/5 on the normalized scale. The most recent tornado was recorded on Sep 1, 2021.
The most damaging natural disaster on record for ZIP code 20778 was Winter Storm, which occurred on Feb 14, 2003. This event caused $2M in documented property damage. It was rated at severity level 5/5.
Natural disasters have caused a documented total of $2.5M in property damage in the West River, MD area (ZIP 20778). This figure is based on historical records from FEMA, NOAA Storm Events Database, and USGS, and covers events from the 1950s through the present. Actual damages may be higher, as not all events have complete damage assessments.
Data sourced 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 →