Silver Spring Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station · Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Silver Spring’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Silver Spring gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #149 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 16 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 Silver Spring’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Silver Spring, and Silver Spring’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 11% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #149 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Silver Spring’s residents live in 19 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, Silver Spring has more expected damage per building than 57% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.4M a year in losses across Silver Spring: $5.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Silver Spring flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Silver Spring, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $4K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $4K
Silver Spring isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Silver Spring
Disasters that paid out in Silver Spring itself (aid to households or repair grants to Silver Spring), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel302 households applied for aid$236K aid approved
Montgomery County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Silver Spring after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Silver Spring archive →Silver Spring and its neighbors
Silver Spring is 3rd of the 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 227 |
| Chevy Chase | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Silver Spring | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Takoma Park | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Forest Glen | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Adelphi | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hillandale | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Kemp Mill | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| South Kensington | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Langley Park | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Four Corners | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Silver Spring 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 Silver Spring
Is Silver Spring at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Silver Spring has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #149 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Silver Spring flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Silver Spring since 1979, $55K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (1).
Is Silver Spring 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 Montgomery County, 51% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Silver Spring?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Silver Spring’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 Silver Spring?
By FEMA money that reached Silver Spring, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 302 households applied for aid, $236K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 1 paid, $4K.
Is Silver Spring at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Silver Spring’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Silver Spring.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Silver Spring’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.