Pine Street Neighborhood Historic District · Photo: Daniel L. Brandewie · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Cambridge than in 86% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cambridge gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #229 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (33%), then river and rain flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 58 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 Cambridge’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cambridge faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
Coastal flooding
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 Cambridge’s grade
Hurricanes are 33% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cambridge, and Cambridge’s rate of hurricanes damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 23%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
A #229 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cambridge’s residents live in 5 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, Cambridge has more expected damage per building than 88% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Cambridge: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cambridge flood? Sometimes: 58 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cambridge, from FEMA’s records: 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel37 claims · $888K
- Hurricane Fran2 claims · $6K
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $8K
Cambridge isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Dorchester County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cambridge
Disasters that paid out in Cambridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Cambridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$31K to the City of Cambridge for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$28K to the City of Cambridge for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$30K to the City of Cambridge for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel288 households applied for aid$547K aid approved$115K to the City of Cambridge for repairs37 flood claims paid for it, $888K
- 2003Snow$9K to the City of Cambridge for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$10K to the City of Cambridge for repairs
Dorchester 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 Cambridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cambridge archive →Cambridge and its neighbors
Cambridge has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | Aless damage than 86% | hurricanes | 58 |
| Algonquin | C−more damage than 77% | coastal flooding | — |
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 Cambridge faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Cambridge
Is Cambridge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cambridge has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #229 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (33%) and river and rain flooding (28%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cambridge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 58 claims in Cambridge since 1979, $1.1M in all, or 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (37).
Is Cambridge 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 Dorchester County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 8.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cambridge?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cambridge’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 Cambridge?
By FEMA money that reached Cambridge, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 288 households applied for aid, $547K approved, and $115K to the City of Cambridge for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 37 paid, $888K.
Is Cambridge at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (33%), and Cambridge’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cambridge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cambridge’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.