Enter any address in Howard County, Maryland to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates the flood character in Howard County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 90 flash flood events and 71 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on July 31, 2025, caused by slow-moving thunderstorms producing two to six inches of rain, and on July 9, 2025, when instantaneous rain rates approached five to six inches per hour, leading to widespread flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $62,783 and an average water depth of 3.5 feet. However, properties in Zone X, typically considered moderate-to-low risk, have also seen significant claims, averaging $16,603 with an average water depth of 4.4 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and X_UNSHADED, should pay close attention to their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
41 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Howard County, Maryland has recorded 163 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 90 flash floods and 71 river or area floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1971–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | May 27, 2018 |
| Severe Storm And Flooding | Flood | Jul 30, 2016 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 22, 2016 |
| Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Feb 12, 2014 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Flood | Sep 6, 2011 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 18, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 8, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 8, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Oct 29, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2025
A slow moving cold front combined with a highly unstable atmosphere along with tropical moisture to produce slow moving thunderstorms with heavy rainfall. Some of these storms trained over the same areas, resulting in scattered to numerous instances of flash flooding. Total rainfall amounts in areas with flash flooding averaged two to four inches, though some localized amounts up to six inches ...
Flash Flood — May 30, 2025
Showers and thunderstorms developed along a slow moving cold front and produced a quick one to locally three inches of rain in a short period of time.
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
Another day of an anomalously moist airmass produced numerous showers and thunderstorms across Maryland. This resulted in localized rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches in a short period of time, which resulted in instances of flooding and flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Jul 9, 2025
An anomalously moist airmass ahead of a frontal boundary sparked numerous showers and thunderstorms across Maryland. Instantaneous rain rates approached five to six inches an hour in the bigger storms. Storm total rainfall of one and a half to four inches resulted in flooding and flash flooding in areas throughout the evening of July 9th.
Flash Flood — Aug 18, 2024
Thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall that led to isolated instances of flooding.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Howard County, Maryland:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Howard County, Maryland that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.