FEMA puts Bensville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bensville gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #121 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1994.
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 Bensville 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 Bensville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bensville, and Bensville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #121 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bensville’s residents live in 2 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, Bensville has less expected damage per building than 54% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Bensville: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bensville flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bensville, from FEMA’s records: 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms3 claims · $21K
- Hurricane Isaias2 claims · $38K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $5K
Bensville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Charles County.The storms Bensville remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Charles County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Bensville itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20113 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Charles County
- 20143 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20182 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Charles County has had 19 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 Bensville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bensville archive →Bensville and its neighbors
Bensville is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waldorf | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Bryans Road | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Bensville | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Accokeek | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Pomfret | — | 747 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Bensville 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 Bensville
Is Bensville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bensville has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #121 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bensville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Bensville since 1994, $281K in all, or 3.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (3).
Is Bensville 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 Charles County, 45% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bensville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bensville’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 Bensville?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 3 paid, $21K.
Is Bensville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Bensville’s rate for it is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bensville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bensville’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.