Howard County
Maryland — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 72th
Howard County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 72.4, 72th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $52M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 12.05 / yr | $845K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 5.32 / yr | $5M |
| Strong Wind | High | 8.04 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | High | 38.41 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.10 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.57 / yr | $30M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M |
| Drought | Medium | 5.33 / yr | $1M |
| Hail | Low | 3.68 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.89 / yr | $217K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.60 / yr | $2M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.24 / yr | $3K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.19 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $632 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $9K |
| 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 Howard County?
Howard County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 72.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 72th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Howard County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $845K EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $5M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Howard County compare to other Maryland counties?
Howard County ranks #8 of 24 Maryland counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Howard County's $52M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.