riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Kent County Disaster Risk

Kent County, Maryland

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

28th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#23

of 24 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

60th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 60% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 25% 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 52% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 81% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Kent County

Risk Verdict

Kent County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 28th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Kent County, scoring in the 81th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 60th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (52th), wildfire (25th), tornado (24th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Kent 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 flood 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

Kent County is notably safer than the average county in Maryland. Its composite risk score is 32.7 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 Kent County, MD?
Kent County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 28th 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 Kent County?
Kent County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (81th percentile), flooding (60th percentile), earthquake (52th percentile), wildfire (25th percentile), tornado (24th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 81th 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 Kent County risk compare to the Maryland average?
Kent County's composite risk percentile is 28th, compared to the Maryland state average of 60th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Kent County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Maryland.
Is Kent County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Kent County's hurricane risk is at the 81th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Kent County is at the 60th 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 Kent County a safe place to live?
Kent County's composite risk score of 28th 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 81th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Calvert County

Maryland

+1.4

Very Low

29th percentile

Queen Anne's County

Maryland

+8.1

Very Low

36th percentile

Garrett County

Maryland

-11.5

Very Low

16th 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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