Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Chesapeake Beach than in 90% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chesapeake Beach gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #219 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%), then hurricanes (27%). Flood insurance has paid 59 claims here since 1993.
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 Chesapeake Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Chesapeake Beach 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
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 Chesapeake Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 48% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chesapeake Beach, and Chesapeake Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 94% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 14%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
A #219 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chesapeake Beach’s residents live in 3 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, Chesapeake Beach has more expected damage per building than 84% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $844K a year in losses across Chesapeake Beach: $587K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chesapeake Beach flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chesapeake Beach, from FEMA’s records: 20.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel45 claims · $1.4M
- Hurricane Fran1 claim · $104K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $3K
Chesapeake Beach isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Calvert County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chesapeake Beach
Disasters that paid out in Chesapeake Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Chesapeake Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$32K to the Town of Chesapeake Beach for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$11K to the Town of Chesapeake Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$68K to the Town of Chesapeake Beach for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$24K to the Town of Chesapeake Beach for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel69 households applied for aid$103K aid approved$147K to the Town of Chesapeake Beach for repairs45 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2003Snow$10K to the Town of Chesapeake Beach for repairs
Calvert 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 Chesapeake Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chesapeake Beach archive →Chesapeake Beach and its neighbors
Chesapeake Beach is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Beach | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 85 |
| Chesapeake Beach | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
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 Chesapeake Beach 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.
- 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 Chesapeake Beach
Is Chesapeake Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chesapeake Beach has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #219 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (48%) and hurricanes (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chesapeake Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Chesapeake Beach since 1993, $1.6M in all, or 20.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (45).
Is Chesapeake Beach 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 Calvert County, 63% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Chesapeake Beach?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chesapeake Beach’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 Chesapeake Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Chesapeake Beach, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 69 households applied for aid, $103K approved, and $147K to the Town of Chesapeake Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 45 paid, $1.4M.
Is Chesapeake Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (48%), and Chesapeake Beach’s rate for it is lower than 94% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chesapeake Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chesapeake Beach’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.