Photo: Mellowcream · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Easton faces less hazard damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Easton gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #184 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (42%), then hurricanes (38%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 1996.
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 Easton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Easton 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 Easton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 42% of the building damage FEMA expects in Easton, and Easton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 97% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A #184 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Easton’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, Easton has more expected damage per building than 70% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Easton: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Easton flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Easton, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $3K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $22K
- Hurricane Isabel1 claim · $1K
Easton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Talbot County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Easton
Disasters that paid out in Easton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Easton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$41K to the Town of Easton for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$73K to the Town of Easton for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$33K to the Town of Easton for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel31 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$39K to the Town of Easton for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $1K
- 2003Snow$44K to the Town of Easton for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$66K to the Town of Easton for repairs
Talbot 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 Easton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Easton archive →Get ready for what Easton 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 Easton
Is Easton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Easton has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #184 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (42%) and hurricanes (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Easton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Easton since 1996, $338K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (1).
Is Easton 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 Talbot County, 99% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Easton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Easton’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 Easton?
By FEMA money that reached Easton, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 31 households applied for aid, $34K approved, and $39K to the Town of Easton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 1 paid, $3K.
Is Easton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (42%), and Easton’s rate for it is lower than 97% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Easton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Easton’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.