Caroline County, MD Environment & Hazard Risk

• DroughtRelatively High$1.74M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively Moderate$4.83M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 8 years
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$765K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.1 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$90.02K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.5 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Low$96.57K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 901 years
• Heat waveRelatively Low$459K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.6 events a year
• Coastal floodingRelatively Low$198K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.7 events a year
• EarthquakeVery Low$275K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 808 years
• Cold waveRelatively Low$787K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• LightningRelatively Low$160K/yr expected annual loss, about 35 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively Low$42.13K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• HailRelatively Low$125K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.6 events a year
• TornadoVery Low$295K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
• LandslideVery Low$60/yr expected annual loss, about once every 19 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

158 of 14,046 (1.1%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

308

Insured in high-risk zones

116 (38%)

Flood claims since 1978

77

Claims paid since 1978

$1.38M

• Thunderstorm Wind159 · 1 death
• Strong Wind86
• Winter Weather84
• Drought60
• Heat59 · 2 deaths
• Heavy Rain53
• Dense Fog34
• Winter Storm28
• Excessive Heat24
• Cold/Wind Chill24

• Heat07/04/2012

  Caroline

  2 deaths

  What happened

  The combination of continued heat and more humidity returned to the Eastern Shore starting on Independence Day and lasted until the 7th in the northern half of the Eastern Shore and the 8th in the southern half of the Eastern Shore. High temperatures on the 3rd and 4th were mainly in the mid 90s, but the air mass was still relatively dry on the 3rd. It became more humid on the 4th (afternoon heat indices around 100F) and the 5th (afternoon heat indices between 100F and 105F). The 6th offer a reprieve from the humidity, but most high temperatures were in the upper 90s. The hot spell peaked on the 7th with many high temperatures in the 100s and afternoon heat indices of around 105F. A cold front slipped slowly south through the Eastern Shore during the first half of the day on the 8th. Coupled with more cloudiness, high temperatures were in the lower 90s in Cecil and Kent Counties, but still reached 95F to 100F across the rest of the Eastern Shore along with afternoon heat indices between 100F and 105F. The excessive heat and heat ended on the 9th as the cold front sagged farther to the south. ||A 12-year-old boy and a 8-year-old boy drowned on the 7th after seeking some...

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind07/13/2022

  Denton, Caroline County

  1 death, 1 injured

  What happened

  Photo of a camper significantly damaged by a fallen tree and the Martinak State Park Campground. This resulted in one injury to an occupant. Time estimated from radar. This was near the beginning of a macroburst which continued for about 18 miles east into Delaware with estimated peak winds of 110 mph.

• Heat06/07/1999

  Caroline

  5 injured

  What happened

  A large high pressure system over the southeastern United States pumped in a hot and humid air mass across the Delmarva Peninsula for three days. The hottest day was the 8th. A weak trough brought in slightly cooler and considerably drier air on the 9th, although high temperatures still reached around 90 degrees. A stronger backdoor cold front (it moved from north to south) brought in considerably cooler air into the region the evening of the 9th. The high temperature in Easton reached 95 degrees on the 7th and 98 degrees on the 8th, both making new daily high temperature records for the cooperative observation station. Highest temperatures reached during this hot spell included 98 degrees in Salisbury and 97 degrees at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport.Some students became ill in Caroline County schools on the 7th. Authorities believed it was heat related. Students were dismissed early on the 8th in all schools that did not have air conditioning. Talbot County school districts cancelled all planned outdoor activities for the 8th.

• Flash Flood06/25/2006

  South Portion, Caroline County

  $5M damage

  What happened

  Repeating thunderstorms with torrential downpours dropped up to around one foot of rain across southern parts of Caroline County. This caused extensive roadway, field and stream flooding. Hardest hit was Federalsburg where 11.5 inches of rain fell. An emergency was declared the morning of the 25th. About 40 people were evacuated along the Marshyhope Creek where the worst flooding occurred. All were permitted to return except for people on the east side of Main Street. Flooding along the Marshyhope Creek destroyed Railroad Avenue and badly damaged the tracks of the Maryland and Delaware Railroad Line. Over a dozen roads were closed in the county including the Central Avenue Bridge in Federalsburg. Three roads were still closed on the 29th. Railroad Avenue was repaired to the point that it was reopened on the 30th. The elementary school in Federalsburg suffered minor damage. Schools were closed throughout the week mainly because of closed roads. The heavy rain caused agricultural damage which ranged from fifteen to forty-five percent losses. The hardest hit crops were cucumbers. Damage also occurred to the wheat crop and early corn and soybean plants drowned. Chicken houses...

• Flash Flood09/16/1999

  Countywide, Caroline County

  1 injured, $3.25M damage

  What happened

  Hurricane Floyd battered the Maryland Eastern Shore on September 16th and brought with it torrential rains and damaging winds. The hurricane caused widespread flash flooding as storm totals averaged around ten inches, most of which fell in a twelve hour period from the early morning through the afternoon on the 16th. The highest verifiable storm total was 14.00 inches in Chestertown (Kent County). Based on Doppler Radar storm totals estimate similar amounts also fell across northern Queen Anne's County. Flooding along tidal sections of inland creeks and rivers were exacerbated during times of high tide. The torrential downpours associated with Hurricane Floyd exceeded the 100-year-flood return period for most of the Eastern Shore. Hundreds of roads and bridges were closed. At one point there were 225 roads closed throughout the state. About 450 people were evacuated from low lying areas, 300 in Cecil County. Five people were seriously injured. Dozens more were rescued from trapped vehicles. A 32-year-old man died on September 19th near Centreville (Queen Anne's County) when he was ejected from his motorcycle while attempting to jump over a washed out bridge. While...

• Heat07/23/1999

  Caroline

  3 injured

  What happened

  A protracted run of days with consecutive high temperatures of 90 degrees or higher started along the Eastern Shore on July 23rd. It lasted as long as 16 days in some areas through August 7th. Dispersed within this run were two periods of both excessive heat and humidity: from July 23rd through July 25th and again from July 29th through August 1st. A cold front moved through the area on the 25th and brought in drier air. High temperatures still reached into the 90s from the 26th through the 28th. The humidity and higher temperatures returned on the 29th. A strong cold front moved through the region the afternoon and evening of August 1st. This brought in considerably drier air, the driest air since mid-July. Because of the extremely dry ground conditions, high temperatures kept on reaching around 90 degrees through the 7th. Then a stronger cold front brought in an even cooler air mass from Canada into the northeastern United States. Delmarva hospitals reported a few cases of heat related injuries. Cecil County Department of Aging distributed fans to the needy. The continued excessive heat and lack of rain parched non-irrigated farms across the Eastern Shore. During...

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/29/2026

  Grove, Caroline County

• Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/29/2026

  Bridgetown, Caroline County

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/29/2026

  Preston, Caroline County

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/19/2026

  Ridgeley Pelican Arp, Caroline County

• Excessive Heat07/18/2026

  Caroline

• Excessive Heat07/15/2026

  Caroline

• Flash Flood07/07/2026

  American Corners, Caroline County

  $20K damage

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/06/2026

  Greensboro, Caroline County

• Hurricane Hanna (2008)08/28/2008 · Landfall: SC · 977 mbTropical storm52 mph nearby
• Hurricane Bertha (1996)07/05/1996 · Landfall: NC · 960 mbTropical storm69 mph nearby
• Tropical Storm Danielle (1992)09/22/1992 · Landfall: VA · 1,001 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1944)07/30/1944 · Landfall: NC · 985 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1888)09/06/1888 · Landfall: FL · 999 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1872)10/22/1872 · Landfall: FL, NCTropical storm46 mph nearby

• Town of DentonServes 4,848 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Town of FederalsburgServes 2,450 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Town of GreensboroServes 1,878 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Town of RidgelyServes 1,600 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Town of PrestonServes 750 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Caroline Acres Mobile Home ParkServes 395 · Groundwater · Private1 health violation+4 monitoring or reporting
• Benedictine SchoolServes 300 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
• Cedar Mobile Home ParkServes 300 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+6 monitoring or reporting