Photo: G. Edward Johnson · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Colesville faces less hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colesville gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #156 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hurricanes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1985.
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 Colesville 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 Colesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Colesville, and Colesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #156 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Colesville’s residents live in 4 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, Colesville has more expected damage per building than 60% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Colesville: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Colesville flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Colesville, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Gloria1 claim · $2K
Colesville 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 Colesville remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Montgomery County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Colesville itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19851 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20031 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Isabel, declared for Montgomery County
- 20141 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 Colesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Colesville archive →Colesville and its neighbors
Colesville is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairland | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Cloverly | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Wheaton | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| White Oak | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Colesville | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Glenmont | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Kemp Mill | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Layhill | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain 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 Colesville 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 Colesville
Is Colesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colesville has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #156 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Colesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Colesville since 1985, $19K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Gloria (1).
Is Colesville 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 Colesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Colesville’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 Colesville?
By flood claims, Hurricane Gloria: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Colesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Colesville’s rate for it is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Colesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Colesville’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.