Anne Arundel County
Maryland — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 82th
Anne Arundel County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 81.9, 82th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $75M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 9.52 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | High | 39.89 / yr | $3M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.29 / yr | $7M |
| Strong Wind | High | 7.74 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.09 / yr | $8M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.43 / yr | $7M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 3.64 / yr | $33M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.19 / yr | $23K |
| Hail | Medium | 3.38 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 4.47 / yr | $1M |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.66 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.43 / yr | $309K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.22 / yr | $3M |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $33K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Anne Arundel County?
Anne Arundel County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 81.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 82th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Anne Arundel County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $1M EAL), Lightning (High, $3M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $7M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Anne Arundel County compare to other Maryland counties?
Anne Arundel County ranks #5 of 24 Maryland counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Anne Arundel County's $75M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.