St. Thomas Church · Photo: Jameslwoodward · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Owings Mills than in 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Owings Mills gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #120 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1989.
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 Owings Mills 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 Owings Mills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Owings Mills, and Owings Mills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 15% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #120 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Owings Mills’ residents live in 8 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, Owings Mills has less expected damage per building than 54% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.5M a year in losses across Owings Mills: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Owings Mills flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Owings Mills, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Owings Mills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Baltimore County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Owings Mills
Disasters that paid out in Owings Mills itself (aid to households or repair grants to Owings Mills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel35 households applied for aid$22K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Baltimore 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 Owings Mills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Owings Mills archive →Owings Mills and its neighbors
Owings Mills is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reisterstown | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Owings Mills | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Garrison | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Randallstown | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
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 Owings Mills 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 Owings Mills
Is Owings Mills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Owings Mills has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #120 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Owings Mills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Owings Mills since 1989, $75K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Owings Mills 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 Baltimore County, 1.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Owings Mills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Owings Mills’ 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 Owings Mills?
By FEMA money that reached Owings Mills, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 35 households applied for aid, $22K approved.
Is Owings Mills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Owings Mills’ rate for it is lower than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Owings Mills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Owings Mills’ 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.