Photo: formulanone · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts Severna Park’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Severna Park gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #81 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1979.
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 Severna Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Severna Park 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 Severna Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Severna Park, and Severna Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 91% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #81 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Severna Park’s residents live in 10 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, Severna Park has less expected damage per building than 69% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.0M a year in losses across Severna Park: $4.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Severna Park flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Severna Park, from FEMA’s records: 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel11 claims · $344K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $5K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $4K
Severna Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Anne Arundel County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Severna Park
Disasters that paid out in Severna Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to Severna Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel62 households applied for aid$116K aid approved11 flood claims paid for it, $344K
Anne Arundel County has had 19 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 Severna Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Severna Park archive →Severna Park and its neighbors
Severna Park is 8th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Arnold | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Glen Burnie | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Gambrills | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lake Shore | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 110 |
| Arden on the Severn | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Herald Harbor | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Severna Park | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
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 Severna Park 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 Severna Park
Is Severna Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Severna Park has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #81 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Severna Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Severna Park since 1979, $640K in all, or 2.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (11).
Is Severna Park 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 Anne Arundel County, 2.5% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Severna Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Severna Park’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 Severna Park?
By FEMA money that reached Severna Park, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 62 households applied for aid, $116K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 11 paid, $344K.
Is Severna Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Severna Park’s rate for it is lower than 91% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Severna Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Severna Park’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.