riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Caroline County Disaster Risk

Caroline County, Maryland

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

46th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#17

of 24 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

53th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 64% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 24% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Caroline County

Risk Verdict

Caroline County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 46th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Caroline County, scoring in the 88th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 64th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (53th), earthquake (53th), tornado (24th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Caroline County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as wildfire also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Caroline County is notably safer than the average county in Maryland. Its composite risk score is 14.5 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Caroline County, MD?
Caroline County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 46th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Caroline County?
Caroline County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (88th percentile), wildfire (64th percentile), flooding (53th percentile), earthquake (53th percentile), tornado (24th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 88th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Caroline County risk compare to the Maryland average?
Caroline County's composite risk percentile is 46th, compared to the Maryland state average of 60th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Caroline County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Maryland.
Is Caroline County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Caroline County's hurricane risk is at the 88th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Caroline County is at the 53th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Caroline County a safe place to live?
Caroline County's composite risk score of 46th percentile is below the Maryland state average of 60th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 88th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Charles County

Maryland

-1.6

Relatively Low

44th percentile

St. Mary's County

Maryland

-3.1

Very Low

43th percentile

Talbot County

Maryland

-3.3

Very Low

42th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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