Photo: cassi hayden · Public domainFEMA puts Temple Hills’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, Temple Hills gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #135 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then hurricanes (12%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Temple Hills’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Temple Hills 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
Earthquakes
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 Temple Hills’ grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Temple Hills, and Temple Hills’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #135 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Temple Hills’ residents live in 3 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, Temple Hills has more expected damage per building than 52% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $738K a year in losses across Temple Hills: $441K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Temple Hills flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Temple Hills. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Temple Hills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Prince George's County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Temple Hills
Disasters that paid out in Temple Hills itself (aid to households or repair grants to Temple Hills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel199 households applied for aid$170K aid approved
Prince George's County has had 15 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 Temple Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Temple Hills archive →Temple Hills and its neighbors
Temple Hills is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlow Heights | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Camp Springs | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Oxon Hill | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Temple Hills | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
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 Temple Hills 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Temple Hills
Is Temple Hills at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Temple Hills has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #135 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Temple Hills 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 Prince George's County, 0.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Temple Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Temple Hills’ 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 Temple Hills?
By FEMA money that reached Temple Hills, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 199 households applied for aid, $170K approved.
Is Temple Hills at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Temple Hills’ rate for it is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Temple Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Temple Hills’ 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.