Photo: westroopnerd · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Bethesda’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, Bethesda gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #115 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 55 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Bethesda’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bethesda 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
Earthquakes
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 Bethesda’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bethesda, and Bethesda’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #115 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bethesda’s residents live in 19 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, Bethesda has less expected damage per building than 56% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.6M a year in losses across Bethesda: $8.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bethesda flood? Sometimes: 55 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bethesda, from FEMA’s records: 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms4 claims · $13K
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $169K
- Hurricane Sandy2 claims · $6K
Bethesda isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Bethesda
Disasters that paid out in Bethesda itself (aid to households or repair grants to Bethesda), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel22 households applied for aid$19K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Montgomery County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bethesda after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bethesda archive →Bethesda and its neighbors
Bethesda is 4th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendship Heights Village | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| North Bethesda | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Chevy Chase | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bethesda | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Chevy Chase | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Chevy Chase Village | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Potomac | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Brookmont | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Somerset | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| South Kensington | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Glen Echo | — | 276 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 Bethesda 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Bethesda
Is Bethesda at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bethesda has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #115 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bethesda flood?
Flood insurance has paid 55 claims in Bethesda since 1979, $752K in all, or 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (4).
Is Bethesda 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 Montgomery County, 51% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bethesda?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bethesda’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 Bethesda?
By FEMA money that reached Bethesda, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 22 households applied for aid, $19K approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 4 paid, $13K.
Is Bethesda at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Bethesda’s rate for it is lower than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bethesda.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bethesda’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.