Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Cecil County, MD

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
24015
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Approved, expires 2027-10-16. Plan: Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337), approved 2022-10-17.

Update: FEMA tracker shows a plan in progress.

Since the plan was approved on 2022-10-17: 1 new hazard declaration (1 incident) and 109 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($10,613,935 a year), Drought ($2,359,201) and Strong Wind ($1,860,039).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Approved, expires 2027-10-16
Plan:
Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)
Approved:
2022-10-17
Days to expiry:
381
Update underway:
FEMA tracker shows a plan in progress

What changed since your last plan (approved 2022-10-17)

New federal declarations:
1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): EM-3634-MD (Severe Winter Storm)
Storm Events records since approval:
109 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 3, SRL 12 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 67
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Cecil CountyCountyApproved, expires 2027-10-16Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)2022-10-172027-10-16381FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2023-01-03
Cecilton townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)2022-10-172027-10-16381FEMA tracker shows a plan in progress
Charlestown townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)2022-10-172027-10-16381FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-10-26
Chesapeake City townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)2022-10-172027-10-16381FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-11-14
Elkton townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)2022-10-172027-10-16381FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-11-16
North East townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)2022-10-172027-10-16381FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-12-28
Perryville townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)2022-10-172027-10-16381FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-12-06
Port Deposit townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)2022-10-172027-10-16381FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-10-18
Rising Sun townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16Cecil County Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA plan 108337)2022-10-172027-10-16381FEMA tracker shows a plan in progressthis jurisdiction approved 2022-11-22

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countStorm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively LowRelatively Low$9,722,378$45,030$846,528$10,613,93599
2DroughtRelatively HighRelatively Highn/a$2,359,201n/a$2,359,20152
3Strong WindRelatively HighRelatively High$654,520$49,196$1,156,322$1,860,039413Includes 26 High Wind and 88 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
4HurricaneRelatively LowRelatively Moderate$1,247,006$473,936$37,557$1,758,4993
5Heat WaveRelatively LowRelatively Moderate$1$3,834$1,583,765$1,587,60081
6TornadoRelatively LowRelatively Low$658,042$1,766$694,355$1,354,16210
7Cold WaveRelatively LowRelatively Moderate$575$5,421$1,202,002$1,207,99832Includes 2 Frost/Freeze records (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
8EarthquakeRelatively LowRelatively Low$812,171n/a$141,302$953,473Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
9LightningRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$38,141n/a$357,897$396,03920
10Coastal FloodingRelatively LowRelatively Low$386,512n/a$4,158$390,6704
11Winter WeatherRelatively HighRelatively High$49,794$57$325,052$374,902181Includes 4 Sleet records (outside NRI's Winter Weather definition).
12Ice StormRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$95,768n/a$113,417$209,1841
13HailVery LowRelatively Low$5,799$143,462$508$149,77032
14WildfireVery LowVery Low$10,178$29$2,261$12,4675
15LandslideVery LowVery Low$2,621n/a$71$2,6920No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
TsunamiInsufficient DataInsufficient Datan/an/an/an/a0No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local landslide and tsunami records (Storm Events records these hazards only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Coastal Flooding and Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 304 (Relatively Moderate, 78.3); tract 301 (Relatively Low, 72.7); tract 305.03 (Relatively Low, 70.6)
Hurricanetract 301 (Relatively Moderate, 86.1); tract 304 (Relatively Moderate, 80.1); tract 302 (Relatively Moderate, 79.9)
Landslidetract 312.01 (Relatively Low, 89.8); tract 301 (Relatively Low, 89.2); tract 309.04 (Relatively Low, 89.1)
Tornadotract 304 (Relatively Moderate, 62.0); tract 301 (Relatively Moderate, 60.5); tract 312.02 (Relatively Moderate, 55.2)
Tsunamino tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Wildfiretract 301 (Relatively Low, 75.9); tract 302 (Relatively Low, 73.7); tract 309.04 (Relatively Low, 71.2)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 304 is Census Tract 304). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tidenone in data (flood depth: FIRM)4 records, 2003 to 2024 (4 zone-level)Storm Surge/Tide, 2003-09-19, $1,000,000 property; crops not reported (2003 dollars); NWS zone MDZ008Countywide (zone-level records).Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill30 records, 1996 to 2026 (30 zone-level)1 day to 15 days (median 2 days); 24 with a recorded value15 consecutive days, 2003-01-14 to 2003-01-28, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Cold/Wind Chill records from May to September (a frost night, not a cold wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage2 records, 2007 to 2021 (2 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 2 records.Countywide (zone-level records).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)52 records, 1997 to 2012 (52 zone-level)1 day to 421 days (median 1 day); 16 with a recorded value421 days (about 13.8 months), 2001-10-01 to 2002-11-25, a run of 15 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)35 records, 1969 to 20250.5 in to 2 in (median 1 in); 35 with a recorded value2 in hail, 1985-06-24Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Elkton town (6 records), Charlestown town (3 records), Perryville town (3 records), North East town (2 records), Port Deposit town (2 records), Rising Sun town (2 records), Chesapeake City town (1 record).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)81 records, 1996 to 2025 (81 zone-level)1 day to 10 days (median 3 days); 57 with a recorded value10 consecutive days, 2002-08-11 to 2002-08-20, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Heat records from November to March (unseasonable warmth, not a heat wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson3 records, 2008 to 2020 (3 zone-level)Strongest recorded: Tropical Storm record, 2011-08-27 to 2011-08-28, $110,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars); NWS zone MDZ008Countywide (zone-level records).Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)1 record, 2014 (1 zone-level)No damage reported in 1 record.Countywide (zone-level records).
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)99 records, 1996 to 2025 (7 zone-level)Flash Flood, 1999-09-16, $3,000,000 property; crops not reported (1999 dollars), 2 direct injuriesEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Elkton town (22 records), Port Deposit town (8 records), Chesapeake City town (5 records), North East town (5 records), Charlestown town (4 records), Perryville town (2 records), Rising Sun town (2 records), Cecilton town (1 record). Zone-level records (7) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)20 records, 1996 to 2013Lightning, 2011-08-25, $280,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Elkton town (4 records), Rising Sun town (3 records), Chesapeake City town (1 record), North East town (1 record), Perryville town (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)114 records, 1996 to 2025 (114 zone-level)35 kt (40 mph) to 55 kt (63 mph) (median 40 kt (46 mph)); 89 with a recorded value55 kt (63 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2018-03-02; NWS zone MDZ008Strong Wind, 2012-10-29, $400,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2012 dollars)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)329 records, 1969 to 202645 kt (52 mph) to 69 kt (79 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 302 with a recorded value69 kt (79 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1988-06-07Thunderstorm Wind, 2012-06-29, $500,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Elkton town (42 records), North East town (25 records), Rising Sun town (25 records), Port Deposit town (21 records), Chesapeake City town (16 records), Cecilton town (13 records), Charlestown town (9 records), Perryville town (9 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)18 records, 1967 to 2023F/EF0 to F/EF2 (median F/EF1); 17 with a recorded valueF2 tornado, 1981-05-15, 1.5 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 27 yd wide, $2,500,000 property; crops not recorded (1981 dollars), 2 direct injuriesEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Chesapeake City town (1 record), Port Deposit town (1 record), Rising Sun town (1 record).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Tsunaminone (count and damage only)0
Wildfireacres burned (local data)5 records, 2002 to 2006 (3 zone-level)No damage reported in 5 records.Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Elkton town (1 record). Zone-level records (3) apply countywide.
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)181 records, 1996 to 2026 (181 zone-level)Winter Storm, 2010-02-09, $1,000,000 property; $0 crops (2010 dollars); NWS zone MDZ008Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow, lightning and tsunami.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 21 declarations covering 16 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2026-01-242026-01-23EM-3634-MDEmergencySevere Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recordednew since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-03-262020-01-20DR-4491-MDMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not counted$2,023,709.37
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3430-MDEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4491
2016-03-042016-01-22DR-4261-MDMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormWinter Weather$361,891.24
2012-11-202012-10-26DR-4091-MDMajor disasterHurricane SandyHurricane$129,094.74
2012-10-282012-10-26EM-3349-MDEmergencyHurricane SandyHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4091
2011-10-052011-09-06DR-4038-MDMajor disasterRemnants of Tropical Storm LeeInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Hurricane$212,156.61
2011-09-162011-08-24DR-4034-MDMajor disasterHurricane IreneHurricane$255,247.37
2011-08-272011-08-26EM-3335-MDEmergencyHurricane IreneHurricaneno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4034
2010-05-062010-02-05DR-1910-MDMajor disasterSevere Winter Storms and SnowstormsWinter Weather$364,717.02
2010-02-192009-12-18DR-1875-MDMajor disasterSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormWinter Weather$302,892.55
2005-09-132005-08-29EM-3251-MDEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2003-09-192003-09-18DR-1492-MDMajor disasterHurricane IsabelHurricane$308,138.28
2003-03-142003-02-14EM-3179-MDEmergencySnowWinter Weather$226,907.63
1999-09-241999-09-16DR-1303-MDMajor disasterHurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsHurricane$277,111.88
1996-01-231996-01-19DR-1094-MDMajor disasterSevere Storms and FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1996-01-111996-01-06DR-1081-MDMajor disasterBlizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Winter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1993-03-161993-03-13EM-3100-MDEmergencySevere Snowfall & Winter StormWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1977-01-261977-01-26DR-524-MDMajor disasterIce ConditionsWinter WeatherPA not declared for this county
1975-10-041975-10-04DR-489-MDMajor disasterHeavy Rains & FloodingInland Floodingno Public Assistance recorded
1972-06-231972-06-23DR-341-MDMajor disasterTropical Storm AgnesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Hurricaneno Public Assistance recorded

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1962-03-091962-03-09DR-127-MDMajor disasterSevere Storms, High Tides & FloodingInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Coastal Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

Public Assistance not placed in any Maryland county: 1 row, $112,415.86; listed on the Maryland state page.

Source: 3

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Coastal Flooding4101001996 to 2026-06-30
Cold Wave32505001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 2 Frost/Freeze records.
Drought52000001996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail35909001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave81303001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane3000601996 to 2026-06-30
Ice Storm1000001996 to 2026-06-30
Inland Flooding9911415401996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning20000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind443651479001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 26 High Wind and 88 Strong Wind records.
Tornado18101001950 to 2026-06-30
Tsunami0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire5000001996 to 2026-06-30
Winter Weather18114519811996 to 2026-06-30Includes 4 Sleet records.

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationWhy listed
2018-03-02High Wind55 kt (63 mph) measured gustdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MDZ008 (CECIL), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2011-08-27Tropical Storm$110,000 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2011 dollars)0, 0NWS zone MDZ008 (CECIL), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical Depression
2011-08-25Lightning$280,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars)0, 0RISING SUNB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
2010-06-23Excessive Heat$0 property; $0 crops (zone total, 2010 dollars)1, 0NWS zone MDZ008 (CECIL), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2004-09-18Thunderstorm Wind61 kt (70 mph) estimated gustdamage not reported2, 0CHARLESTOWNdeaths or injuries recorded
2003-01-14Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MDZ008 (CECIL), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2002-08-11Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MDZ008 (CECIL), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
2001-10-01Droughtdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone MDZ008 (CECIL), zone-levelB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2001-08-06Heatdamage not reported1, 0NWS zone MDZ008 (CECIL), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
1999-09-16Flash Flood$3,000,000 property; crops not reported (1999 dollars)0, 2COUNTYWIDEB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
1988-06-07Thunderstorm Wind69 kt (79 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
1981-05-15TornadoF2, 1.5 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 27 yd wide$2,500,000 property; crops not recorded (1981 dollars)0, 2location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Tornado

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (974 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

FEMA's declaration data list no tribal or special-area declarations for this state.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Coastal Flooding3.66events per year at a location (modeled)about 3.7 per year at a given location in the countyHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from NRI: the rate at a location is 1 or more a year, so the county rate is at least that.
Cold Wave0.842event-days per yearabout 0.842 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 13 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (43.3%)162005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought7.09event-days per yearabout 7.09 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 10 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (33.3%)2102000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.00156annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.156%not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor (Storm Events does not record earthquakes).
Hail2.79events per yearabout 2.79 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)124.0 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave5.51event-days per yearabout 5.51 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 24 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (80%)85.62005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.0735events per yearabout 1 in 14 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)241851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are in B1-d.
Ice Storm1.19event-days per yearabout 1.19 days per yearPossibleStorm Events event-days in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)791946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywide
Inland Flooding2.5event-days per yearabout 2.5 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 25 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (83.3%)701996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.145events per year (modeled)about 1 in 7 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning35.3days per year with a strikeabout 35.3 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind7.32events per yearabout 7.32 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)2791986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.266events per yearabout 1 in 4 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Tsunamiannual probability at the most exposed location (used in place of a county value)Storm Events records in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fNo descriptor: no Storm Events record 1996 to 2025
Wildfire0.000184annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.0184%PossibleStorm Events records in 2 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (6.67%)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Winter Weather10.7event-days per yearabout 10.7 days per yearHighly likelyStorm Events event-days in 29 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (96.7%)2022005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record (none for earthquake). The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202518300.6
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20250300
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025288309.6
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 20253300.1
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20255300.167
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20259300.3
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20251300.0333
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Coastal Flooding13 of 2170.087.594.2Relatively Moderate 5, Relatively Low 6, Very Low 2, No Rating 8
Cold Wave21 of 2133.053.464.6Relatively Moderate 16, Relatively Low 5
Drought20 of 2179.893.199.6Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 11, Relatively Low 7, No Rating 1
Earthquake21 of 2137.456.678.3Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 16, Very Low 4
Hail21 of 216.337.384.9Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 10, Very Low 10
Heat Wave21 of 2141.171.982.8Relatively Moderate 20, Relatively Low 1
Hurricane21 of 2162.173.386.1Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 18
Ice Storm21 of 2145.968.582.5Relatively Moderate 10, Relatively Low 11
Inland Flooding21 of 217.241.270.5Relatively Moderate 5, Relatively Low 15, Very Low 1
Landslide21 of 2141.573.389.8Relatively Low 6, Very Low 15
Lightning21 of 2137.765.780.7Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 19, Relatively Low 1
Strong Wind21 of 2171.188.695.3Relatively High 18, Relatively Moderate 3
Tornado21 of 2135.049.362.0Relatively Moderate 5, Relatively Low 16
Tsunami0 of 21Insufficient Data 21
Wildfire21 of 2129.351.475.9Relatively Low 4, Very Low 17
Winter Weather21 of 2174.391.195.8Very High 1, Relatively High 19, Relatively Moderate 1

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Hail: Agriculture is 96% of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its plan
Cecil CountyCountyApproved, expires 2027-10-16FMA RL 1, SRL 5; any 22$983,379.860 total; 0 since its plan
Cecilton townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$27,230.2914 total; 4 since its plan
Charlestown townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 1$60,485.7516 total; 2 since its plan
Chesapeake City townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$7,409.9624 total; 0 since its plan
Elkton townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16FMA RL 0, SRL 5; any 15$360,272.4475 total; 13 since its plan
North East townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16FMA RL 2, SRL 1; any 12$66,219.8533 total; 6 since its plan
Perryville townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 2$211,389.2515 total; 0 since its plan
Port Deposit townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16FMA RL 0, SRL 1; any 15$127,400.4632 total; 4 since its plan
Rising Sun townTownApproved, expires 2027-10-16FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$39,724.2533 total; 6 since its plan

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

County Public Assistance in B1-d also includes applicants filed under the county that are not jurisdictions in this plan (for example state agencies, special districts and nonprofits), so the jurisdiction rows add up to less.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2022-10-17county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Coastal Flooding$818,926,075n/a3,217$386,512n/a$4,1580.0472%$0
Cold Wave$21,441,066,756$176,173,292103,701$575$5,421$1,202,002under 0.0001%$0
Droughtn/a$82,386,475n/an/a$2,359,201n/a2.86% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$36,846,474,016n/a103,725$812,171n/a$141,3020.0022%
Hail$21,441,066,756$176,173,292103,701$5,799$143,462$508under 0.0001%
Heat Wave$21,441,066,756$176,173,292103,701$1$3,834$1,583,765under 0.0001%$0
Hurricane$21,440,849,846$175,878,100103,697$1,247,006$473,936$37,5570.00582%
Ice Storm$21,430,516,114n/a103,700$95,768n/a$113,4170.000447%
Inland Flooding$21,370,124,163$1,841,3392,258$9,722,378$45,030$846,528n/a (see note)$0NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$329,918,340n/a1,632$2,621n/a$710.000794%
Lightning$21,441,066,756n/a103,701$38,141n/a$357,8970.000178%
Strong Wind$21,441,066,756$176,173,292103,701$654,520$49,196$1,156,3220.00305%$736,000$0
Tornado$21,441,066,756$176,173,292103,701$658,042$1,766$694,3550.00307%$1,000,000
Tsunamin/an/an/an/an/an/aNRI publishes no building exposure for this county
Wildfire$1,984,693,409$17,647,58412,816$10,178$29$2,2610.000513%
Winter Weather$21,441,066,756$176,173,292103,701$49,794$57$325,0520.000232%$0no Public Assistance recorded (1 declaration)

Totals since 2022-10-17 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 84 county-coded records, 69 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $1,736,000; 25 zone-level records, 12 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: none recorded on the 1 counted declaration.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population103,701
Building value (total, not at risk)$21,441,066,756
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$176,173,292
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$16,765,438
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$6,465,194
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively Low
Community resilience ratingRelatively High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)3Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)12
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition64Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition10

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county total and NFIP communities

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total312641067132
of which: Cecil County (unincorporated area)1520422112
of which: Charlestown town0010101
of which: Elkton town051551507
of which: North East town211211205
of which: Perryville town0020200
of which: Port Deposit town011401507

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Cecil County2400191520422112
Cecilton town2400200000000
Charlestown town2400210010101
Chesapeake City town2400990000000
Elkton town240022051551507
North East town240023211211205
Perryville town2400240020200
Port Deposit town240025011401507
Rising Sun town2401580000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Sources: 1, 4

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential2538341119
2 to 4 unit residential1151501
other residential0050505
non-residential061661607
not reported0000000

FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class; institutional properties are counted in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 1 property is FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 62 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Cecil County, MD: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 24015). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/md/24015/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: [email protected]