Photo: G. Edward Johnson · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Burnt Mills faces less hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burnt Mills gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #214 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2018.
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 Burnt Mills 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 Burnt Mills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Burnt Mills, and Burnt Mills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A #214 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Burnt Mills’ 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, Burnt Mills has more expected damage per building than 82% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $476K a year in losses across Burnt Mills: $375K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Burnt Mills flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Burnt Mills, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Burnt Mills 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.The storms Burnt Mills remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Montgomery County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Burnt Mills itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20181 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20241 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county 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 Burnt Mills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Burnt Mills archive →Burnt Mills and its neighbors
Burnt Mills is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Oak | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hillandale | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Kemp Mill | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Burnt Mills | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Four Corners | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Burnt Mills 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 Burnt Mills
Is Burnt Mills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burnt Mills has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #214 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Burnt Mills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Burnt Mills since 2018, $18K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Burnt Mills 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 Burnt Mills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Burnt Mills’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Burnt Mills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Burnt Mills’ rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Burnt Mills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Burnt Mills’ 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.