Lore, J. C., Oyster House · Photo: Pubdog at en.wikipedia · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Solomons than in 89% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Solomons gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (37%), then river and rain flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2011.
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 Solomons’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Solomons 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
Coastal 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 Solomons’ grade
Hurricanes are 37% of the building damage FEMA expects in Solomons, and Solomons’ rate of hurricanes damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 22%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
A lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Solomons’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $607K a year in losses across Solomons: $502K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Solomons flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Solomons, from FEMA’s records: 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $9K
Solomons isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Calvert County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Solomons
Disasters that paid out in Solomons itself (aid to households or repair grants to Solomons), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel11 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
Calvert 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 Solomons after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Solomons archive →Solomons and its neighbors
Solomons is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lusby | Aless damage than 90% | hurricanes | — |
| Solomons | Aless damage than 89% | hurricanes | 5 |
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 Solomons 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Solomons
Is Solomons at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Solomons has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (37%) and river and rain flooding (30%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Solomons flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Solomons since 2011, $60K in all, or 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Solomons 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 Calvert County, 63% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Solomons?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Solomons’ 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 Solomons?
By FEMA money that reached Solomons, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 11 households applied for aid, $10K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $9K.
Is Solomons at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (37%), and Solomons’ rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Solomons.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Solomons’ 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.