University of Maryland Eastern Shore · Photo: Honors Lane · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Princess Anne than in 76% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Princess Anne gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #245 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (50%), then river and rain flooding (34%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1984.
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 Princess Anne faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
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 Princess Anne’s grade
Hurricanes are 50% of the building damage FEMA expects in Princess Anne, and Princess Anne’s rate of hurricanes damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 5%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #245 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Princess Anne’s residents live in 2 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, Princess Anne has more expected damage per building than 94% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Princess Anne: $636K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Princess Anne flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Princess Anne, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $19K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $14K
- Hurricane Isabel1 claim · $27K
Princess Anne isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Somerset County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Princess Anne
Disasters that paid out in Princess Anne itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Princess Anne), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy102 households applied for aid$130K aid approved$17K to the Town of Princess Anne for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $19K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$19K to the Town of Princess Anne for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel85 households applied for aid$188K aid approved$2K to the Town of Princess Anne for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $27K
Somerset County has had 9 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 Princess Anne after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Princess Anne archive →Get ready for what Princess Anne faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Princess Anne
Is Princess Anne at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Princess Anne has lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #245 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (50%) and river and rain flooding (34%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Princess Anne flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Princess Anne since 1984, $63K in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (1).
Is Princess Anne 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 Somerset County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 15.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Princess Anne?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Princess Anne’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 Princess Anne?
By FEMA money that reached Princess Anne, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 85 households applied for aid, $188K approved, and $2K to the Town of Princess Anne for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 1 paid, $19K.
Is Princess Anne at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (50%), and Princess Anne’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Princess Anne.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Princess Anne’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.