Photo: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Hyattsville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hyattsville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #248 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 2018.
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 Hyattsville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hyattsville 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 Hyattsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hyattsville, and Hyattsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #248 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hyattsville’s residents live in 7 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, Hyattsville has more expected damage per building than 95% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Hyattsville: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hyattsville flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 2018
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hyattsville, from FEMA’s records: 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hyattsville 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hyattsville
Disasters that paid out in Hyattsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hyattsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$82K to the City of Hyattsville for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$53K to the City of Hyattsville for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel213 households applied for aid$137K aid approved$57K to the City of Hyattsville for repairs
- 2003Snow$10K to the City of Hyattsville for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$9K to the City of Hyattsville for repairs
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 Hyattsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hyattsville archive →Hyattsville and its neighbors
Hyattsville is 4th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Park | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Adelphi | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Cottage City | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hyattsville | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Chillum | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Edmonston | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Riverdale Park | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Mount Rainier | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Brentwood | D−more damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| North Brentwood | — | 624 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Hyattsville 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 Hyattsville
Is Hyattsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hyattsville has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #248 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hyattsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Hyattsville since 2018, $296K in all, or 1.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hyattsville 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 Hyattsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hyattsville’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 Hyattsville?
By FEMA money that reached Hyattsville, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 213 households applied for aid, $137K approved, and $57K to the City of Hyattsville for repairs.
Is Hyattsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Hyattsville’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hyattsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hyattsville’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.