FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Marlow Heights than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marlow Heights gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #16 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then hurricanes (15%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Marlow Heights 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 Marlow Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Marlow Heights, and Marlow Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 96% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 15% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #16 of 261 in Maryland; among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Marlow Heights’ 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, Marlow Heights has less expected damage per building than 94% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $546K a year in losses across Marlow Heights: $332K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Marlow Heights flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Marlow Heights. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Marlow Heights 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.The storms Marlow Heights remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Prince George's County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Marlow Heights itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
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.
Marlow Heights and its neighbors
Marlow Heights is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Hill | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Marlow Heights | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Glassmanor | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Camp Springs | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Hillcrest Heights | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Oxon Hill | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Temple Hills | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Marlow Heights 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 Marlow Heights
Is Marlow Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Marlow Heights has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #16 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Marlow Heights 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 Marlow Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Marlow Heights’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Marlow Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Marlow Heights’ rate for it is lower than 96% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Marlow Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Marlow Heights’ 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.