Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Baltimore as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baltimore gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #862 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 2008.
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 Baltimore 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
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 Baltimore’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Baltimore, and Baltimore’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #862 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Baltimore’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Baltimore has more expected damage per building than 87% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $891K a year in losses across Baltimore: $744K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Baltimore flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Baltimore, from FEMA’s records: 6.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Baltimore isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fairfield County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Baltimore
Disasters that paid out in Baltimore itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Baltimore), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$25K to the Village of Baltimore for repairs
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$17K to the Village of Baltimore for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$5K to the Village of Baltimore for repairs
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides26 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$2K to the Village of Baltimore for repairs
Fairfield County has had 9 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Baltimore after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Baltimore archive →Baltimore and its neighbors
Baltimore 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Baltimore | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
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 Baltimore 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.
- 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 Baltimore
Is Baltimore at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baltimore has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #862 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Baltimore flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Baltimore since 2008, $1.1M in all, or 6.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Baltimore 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 Fairfield County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Baltimore?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Baltimore’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 Baltimore?
By FEMA money that reached Baltimore, Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds (2012): $25K to the Village of Baltimore for repairs.
Is Baltimore at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Baltimore’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Baltimore.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Baltimore’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.