Less hazard damage per building is expected in Flower Hill than in 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Flower Hill gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #112 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2003.
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 Flower Hill 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 Flower Hill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Flower Hill, and Flower Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #112 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Flower Hill’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, Flower Hill has less expected damage per building than 57% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Flower Hill: $809K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Flower Hill flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Flower Hill, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel1 claim · $1K
Flower Hill 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 Flower Hill remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Montgomery County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Flower Hill itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20031 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Isabel, declared for Montgomery County
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 Flower Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Flower Hill archive →Flower Hill and its neighbors
Flower Hill is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaithersburg | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Redland | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Montgomery Village | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Flower Hill | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 Flower Hill 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 Flower Hill
Is Flower Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Flower Hill has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #112 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Flower Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Flower Hill since 2003, $1K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (1).
Is Flower Hill 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 Flower Hill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Flower Hill’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 Flower Hill?
By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Flower Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Flower Hill’s rate for it is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Flower Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Flower Hill’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.