Photo: Mbinebri · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Havre de Grace than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Havre de Grace gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #200 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 33 claims here since 1999.
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 Havre de Grace’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Havre de Grace 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 Havre de Grace’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Havre de Grace, and Havre de Grace’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A #200 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Havre de Grace’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, Havre de Grace has more expected damage per building than 77% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Havre de Grace: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Havre de Grace flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Havre de Grace, from FEMA’s records: 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel13 claims · $519K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $684
- Hurricane Debby1 claim · $20K
Havre de Grace is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Harford County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Havre de Grace
Disasters that paid out in Havre de Grace itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Havre de Grace), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$40K to the City of Havre de Grace for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$54K to the City of Havre de Grace for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$427K to the City of Havre de Grace for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$40K to the City of Havre de Grace for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$40K to the City of Havre de Grace for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$29K to the City of Havre de Grace for repairs
Show all 8
- 2003Hurricane Isabel75 households applied for aid$154K aid approved$473K to the City of Havre de Grace for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $519K
- 2003Snow$13K to the City of Havre de Grace for repairs
Harford 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 Havre de Grace after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Havre de Grace archive →Havre de Grace and its neighbors
Havre de Grace has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havre de Grace | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Aberdeen | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
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 Havre de Grace 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.
- Havre de Grace residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Havre de Grace
Is Havre de Grace at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Havre de Grace has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #200 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Havre de Grace flood?
Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in Havre de Grace since 1999, $1.2M in all, or 5.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (13).
Is Havre de Grace 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 Harford County, 46% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Havre de Grace?
Havre de Grace is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Havre de Grace?
By FEMA money that reached Havre de Grace, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 75 households applied for aid, $154K approved, and $473K to the City of Havre de Grace for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 13 paid, $519K.
Is Havre de Grace at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Havre de Grace’s rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Havre de Grace.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Havre de Grace’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.