riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Dorchester County Disaster Risk

Dorchester County, Maryland

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

54th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#16

of 24 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

91th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% 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 85% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Dorchester County

Risk Verdict

Dorchester County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 54th 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

Flood risk is the dominant hazard for Dorchester County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 85th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (83th), earthquake (53th), tornado (31th).

Preparedness Context

With flood risk as the top concern, Dorchester County residents should review flood insurance needs (standard home insurance does not cover flood damage), know your evacuation zone, and keep important documents waterproofed. Secondary risks such as hurricane 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

Dorchester County is notably safer than the average county in Maryland. Its composite risk score is 6.4 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 Dorchester County, MD?
Dorchester County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 54th 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 Dorchester County?
Dorchester County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (91th percentile), hurricane (85th percentile), wildfire (83th percentile), earthquake (53th percentile), tornado (31th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 91th 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 Dorchester County risk compare to the Maryland average?
Dorchester County's composite risk percentile is 54th, compared to the Maryland state average of 60th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Dorchester County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Maryland.
Is Dorchester County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Dorchester County's flooding risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type.
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 Dorchester County a safe place to live?
Dorchester County's composite risk score of 54th 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 flooding at the 91th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Allegany County

Maryland

+4.7

Relatively Low

59th percentile

Cecil County

Maryland

+4.7

Relatively Low

59th percentile

Carroll County

Maryland

+5.7

Relatively Low

60th 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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