Hurricanes risk in Maryland

Hurricane and tropical storm risk in Maryland

Maryland sits on the Mid-Atlantic coast, squarely in the path of tropical systems that form in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico and then curve north along the Eastern Seaboard. The state rarely takes a direct hit from a major hurricane, but it is routinely brushed by tropical storms, weakening hurricanes and their remnants — and those storms still deliver heavy rain, damaging wind, tornadoes and, above all, storm surge.

The official Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center. In Maryland, the greatest threat historically comes from mid-August through October, including late-season storms such as Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, which pushed severe surge into the Chesapeake Bay and flooded communities along the bay and the Atlantic coast.

Geography is what makes Maryland unusual. The state has thousands of miles of tidal shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac and Patuxent rivers, and the Atlantic Ocean. When a tropical system moves up the coast, its counter-clockwise winds pile water into the mouth of the bay, and the bay's narrow shape funnels that surge northward toward Annapolis, Baltimore's harbor and the tidal rivers in between. Communities in Somerset, Dorchester, Worcester, Wicomico, Anne Arundel, Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles counties, along with Ocean City and the lower Eastern Shore, face the highest surge and tidal flooding exposure. Low-lying waterfront neighborhoods, marinas and older downtowns built close to the water are the most vulnerable.

Inland Maryland is not exempt. Heavy rainfall from tropical systems can produce flash flooding in the Piedmont, the Baltimore–Washington corridor and western Maryland, and river flooding can continue for days after the storm has passed.

How it affects homes

Storm damage in Maryland usually falls into three categories:

• Wind and wind-driven rain. Shingle loss, damaged roofs, broken windows, torn siding, failed garage doors, and fallen trees or limbs. Wind-driven rain can penetrate around windows, doors and roof penetrations even when the wind itself does not cause structural failure.
• Storm surge and tidal flooding. In Maryland this is the most destructive — and most dangerous — part of a tropical system. Surge can push several feet of water into waterfront neighborhoods, damaging foundations, flooring, drywall, insulation, HVAC systems and vehicles.
• Inland and flash flooding. Basements and crawl spaces flood, first floors take on water, and sump pumps lose power exactly when they are needed most.

Extended power outages add indirect costs: spoiled food, water damage from failed sump pumps, mold growth in a warm, humid house, and heat-related health risks.

On insurance: most standard homeowners policies cover wind damage and wind-driven rain, but they generally exclude flood damage, including flooding caused by storm surge. Flood coverage is a separate policy, typically purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer, and new policies usually have a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. Some policies also include a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible that applies to named storms — read your policy and talk to your agent before storm season. Renters should remember that renters insurance covers their belongings but not flooding, which requires a separate flood policy.

How to prepare your home

Maryland's Department of Emergency Management and Ready.gov recommend preparing before a storm is even named:

1. Know your zone and route. Find out whether your home is in a designated evacuation zone and where you would go if an order is issued.
2. Strengthen the roof. Replace missing or lifted shingles, check flashing around chimneys and vents, and have a professional evaluate roof-to-wall connections and hurricane straps.
3. Protect openings. Install impact-rated windows or permanent storm shutters; pre-cut plywood panels are a cheaper option if installed correctly and in advance.
4. Reinforce and test the garage door — a common point of failure that can let wind pressurize the whole house.
5. Clear gutters, downspouts and drains, and grade soil so water flows away from the foundation.
6. Install a sump pump with battery backup and test it before the season.
7. Trim trees and remove dead limbs near the house, and avoid planting tall trees close to the structure.
8. Anchor outdoor items — grills, patio furniture, propane tanks, trash cans, playsets — or plan to bring them inside.
9. Elevate what matters. In flood-prone homes, move utilities such as HVAC equipment, water heaters and electrical panels above expected flood level, and store valuables on upper floors.
10. Buy flood insurance now. Because of the 30-day waiting period, coverage purchased as a storm approaches will not be in place in time.
11. Document your home with photos or video, and keep your policy number, agent contact and important documents in a waterproof container or in the cloud.
12. Build a kit and a plan — water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, a battery or hand-crank radio, chargers, and a written family communication plan. Never run a generator indoors or in an attached garage.

Frequently asked questions

Does Maryland really get hurricanes?

Yes, although direct landfalls of major hurricanes are uncommon. Maryland more often experiences tropical storms, weakened hurricanes and their remnants. Even these weaker systems can be destructive here because of the Chesapeake Bay's exposure to storm surge — a storm that barely reaches hurricane strength offshore can still push significant water into bay communities.

Do I need flood insurance in Maryland if I don't live on the water?

Flooding can happen far from the shoreline. Heavy rainfall from tropical systems regularly floods basements, streets and small streams across central and western Maryland. Standard homeowners and renters policies do not cover flood damage, so if you want protection you need a separate flood policy — and because most new policies have a 30-day waiting period, you cannot buy one the week before a storm.

What is the biggest danger from a hurricane in Maryland?

Water, not wind. The National Hurricane Center describes storm surge as the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane, and freshwater flooding from heavy rain as a leading cause of storm-related deaths in the United States. In Maryland, that means surge in the bay and its tidal rivers, plus inland flooding from torrential rain.

Official resources

• Maryland Department of Emergency Management — state preparedness, evacuation zones and emergency alerts.
• NOAA National Hurricane Center — forecasts, storm surge maps and advisories.
• Ready.gov – Hurricanes — federal guidance on making a plan and building a kit.
• FEMA Hurricane Preparedness — mitigation guidance and risk information for homeowners.