St. Mary's Church · Photo: Eminonuk · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Bel Air South than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bel Air South gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #226 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Bel Air South faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Bel Air South’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bel Air South, and Bel Air South’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
A #226 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bel Air South’s residents live in 14 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Maryland town has lower expected damage than 97% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bel Air South has more expected damage per building than 87% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.9M a year in losses across Bel Air South: $7.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bel Air South flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bel Air South, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $3K
Bel Air South isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Harford County.The storms Bel Air South remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Harford County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Bel Air South itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19781 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20211 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Harford County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bel Air South after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bel Air South archive →Bel Air South and its neighbors
Bel Air South is 4th of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bel Air | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Bel Air North | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Abingdon | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Bel Air South | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Bel Air South faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bel Air South
Is Bel Air South at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bel Air South has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #226 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bel Air South flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Bel Air South since 1978, $3K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (1).
Is Bel Air South in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Harford County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bel Air South?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bel Air South’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bel Air South?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 1 paid, $3K.
Is Bel Air South at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Bel Air South’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bel Air South.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bel Air South’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.