Enter any address in Somerset County, Maryland to see its FEMA flood zone
Coastal flooding is the dominant flood character in Somerset County, MD. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 22 instances of coastal flooding, alongside other event types like flash floods and tropical storms. For example, widespread moderate coastal flooding occurred on October 12-13, 2025, due to prolonged strong northeast to north winds. Another coastal flood event on October 18, 2025, resulted from southwesterly and westerly winds pushing trapped water into the Chesapeake Bay.
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with 986 claims averaging $11,670 and an average water depth of 3.0 feet. Zone V properties, while fewer in number (10 claims), have seen significantly higher average payouts ($39,812) and water depths (13.6 feet). Homeowners in coastal areas, particularly those in Zone A and Zone V, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
16 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Somerset County, Maryland has recorded 49 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 10 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 14 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2026)
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 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Hurricane Isabel | Hurricane | Sep 18, 2003 |
| Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations | Hurricane | Sep 16, 1999 |
| Blizzard Of 96 (severe Snow Storm) | Snowstorm | Jan 6, 1996 |
| Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm | Snowstorm | Mar 13, 1993 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flood | Aug 22, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 18, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 12, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 20, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Nov 15, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Mar 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 23, 2023 | 0.00K |
Coastal Flood — Aug 22, 2025
Hurricane Erin passed well offshore and combined with high pressure to the north, resulting in a period of strong onshore winds and coastal flooding across the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore.
Coastal Flood — Oct 18, 2025
South and southwesterly winds developed ahead of a strong cold front. Winds became westerly behind the front, allowing water trapped in the middle Chesapeake Bay to flood portions of the Maryland Eastern Shore.
Coastal Flood — Oct 12, 2025
A coastal low formed off of the Southeast coast on October 11 and slowly tracked north into October 13 before moving offshore. Meanwhile, a strong 1035mb area of high pressure lingered over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. This resulted in a prolonged period of strong northeast to north winds across the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters, which allowed for widespread moderate coastal flooding across ...
Flash Flood — Jul 9, 2025
A short wave trough aloft approached the Mid-Atlantic from the west on July 9. Strong thunderstorms formed during the afternoon and evening with gusty winds and heavy rainfall moving into the lower Maryland Eastern Shore in the evening hours.
Coastal Flood — Sep 20, 2024
The combination of strong high pressure over eastern Canada and weak low pressure off the southern New England coast, resulted in prolonged northeast, east and southeast winds which caused minor to major (tidal) coastal flooding across portions of the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore.
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 Somerset 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 Somerset 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.