FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Chillum than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chillum gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #249 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 114 claims here since 1978.
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 Chillum’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Chillum 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 Chillum’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chillum, and Chillum’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #249 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Chillum’s residents live in 10 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, Chillum has more expected damage per building than 95% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Chillum: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chillum flood? Yes: 114 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chillum, from FEMA’s records: 9.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms24 claims · $280K
- Hurricane Isaias2 claims · $3K
- Hurricane Eta1 claim · $1K
Chillum isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Prince George's County.The storms Chillum remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Prince George's County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Chillum itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200641 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 201424 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 202022 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Prince George's County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Chillum after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chillum archive →Chillum and its neighbors
Chillum is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takoma Park | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Adelphi | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Langley Park | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hyattsville | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Chillum | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Mount Rainier | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Chillum 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 Chillum
Is Chillum at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chillum has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #249 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Chillum flood?
Flood insurance has paid 114 claims in Chillum since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 9.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (24).
Is Chillum 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 Prince George's County, 0.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Chillum?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chillum’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 Chillum?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 24 paid, $280K.
Is Chillum at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Chillum’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chillum.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chillum’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.