Earthquake Risk in Maryland
All Maryland counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index earthquake score
Earthquake risk — ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults — is rated for 24 of 24 Maryland counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Prince George's County carries the state's highest earthquake score at 93.2, with $8M in expected annual earthquake losses.
No Maryland county reaches the High band for earthquake, and expected annual losses from earthquake total roughly $50M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Earthquake
| # | County | Earthquake Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince George's County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $8M | |
| 2 | Baltimore City | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $7M | |
| 3 | Baltimore County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $8M | |
| 4 | Montgomery County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $8M | |
| 5 | Anne Arundel County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M | |
| 6 | Howard County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Washington County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 8 | Harford County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 9 | Frederick County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 10 | Cecil County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $953K | |
| 11 | Charles County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 12 | Carroll County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 13 | Wicomico County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $510K | |
| 14 | Talbot County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $405K | |
| 15 | St. Mary's County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $670K | |
| 16 | Queen Anne's County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $387K | |
| 17 | Dorchester County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $289K | |
| 18 | Allegany County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $237K | |
| 19 | Caroline County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $275K | |
| 20 | Kent County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $286K | |
| 21 | Calvert County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $467K | |
| 22 | Worcester County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $255K | |
| 23 | Somerset County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $111K | |
| 24 | Garrett County | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $89K |
24 Maryland counties with measurable earthquake risk. See the national earthquake ranking or all Maryland counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Maryland county has the highest earthquake risk?
Prince George's County has the highest FEMA earthquake risk score in Maryland at 93.2 (Medium), with $8M in expected annual losses and about 0.00 events per year.
How many Maryland counties face significant earthquake risk?
24 Maryland counties record measurable earthquake risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.