Thomas Maynard House · Photo: Ellie N MD · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Linganore’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Linganore gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #126 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1992.
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 Linganore 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
Tornadoes
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 Linganore’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Linganore, and Linganore’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #126 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Linganore’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, Linganore has less expected damage per building than 52% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Linganore: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Linganore flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1992
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Linganore, 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.
Linganore isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Frederick County.The storms Linganore remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Frederick County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Linganore itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19921 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Frederick County has had 19 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 Linganore after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Linganore archive →Linganore and its neighbors
Linganore is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bartonsville | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| New Market | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Linganore | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Spring Ridge | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Frederick | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
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 Linganore 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Linganore
Is Linganore at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Linganore has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #126 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Linganore flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Linganore since 1992, $1K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Linganore 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 Frederick County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Linganore?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Linganore’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Linganore at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Linganore’s rate for it is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Linganore.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Linganore’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.