riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Carroll County Disaster Risk

Carroll County, Maryland

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

60th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#13

of 24 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

67th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 14% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 68% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Carroll County

Risk Verdict

Carroll County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 60th 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 Carroll County, scoring in the 77th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 68th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (67th), tornado (36th), wildfire (14th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Carroll 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 earthquake 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

Carroll County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Maryland. Its composite risk score is within 0.7 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Maryland as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Carroll County, MD?
Carroll County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 60th 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 Carroll County?
Carroll County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (77th percentile), earthquake (68th percentile), flooding (67th percentile), tornado (36th percentile), wildfire (14th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 77th 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 Carroll County risk compare to the Maryland average?
Carroll County's composite risk percentile is 60th, compared to the Maryland state average of 60th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Carroll County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Maryland.
Is Carroll County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Carroll County's hurricane risk is at the 77th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Carroll County is at the 67th 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 Carroll County a safe place to live?
Carroll County's composite risk score of 60th 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 77th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Somerset County

Maryland

+0.1

Relatively Low

60th percentile

Cecil County

Maryland

-1.0

Relatively Low

59th percentile

Allegany County

Maryland

-1.0

Relatively Low

59th 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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