Caroline County
Maryland — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 46th
Caroline County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 45.7, 46th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and hurricane exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $13M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | High | 4.19 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.12 / yr | $5M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 4.12 / yr | $765K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 7.47 / yr | $90K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $97K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 5.58 / yr | $459K |
| Coastal Flood | Low | 3.66 / yr | $198K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $275K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.79 / yr | $787K |
| Lightning | Low | 35.37 / yr | $160K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.45 / yr | $42K |
| Hail | Low | 1.57 / yr | $125K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.82 / yr | $3M |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $295K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $60 |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Caroline County?
Caroline County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 45.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 46th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Caroline County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (High, $2M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $5M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $765K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Caroline County compare to other Maryland counties?
Caroline County ranks #17 of 24 Maryland counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Caroline County's $13M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.