Natural Disaster Risk in Prince George's County
Maryland
Risk Summary for Prince George's County
Prince George's County scores 8.3/10 (Very High risk), above the U.S. average of 4.5. The leading hazard is Lightning.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Scores
How it compares
Live Conditions
🏠 What this means for insurance
High-risk area — review your coverage carefully
Properties in very high-risk areas often require specialized coverage that standard homeowners policies do not include. Consider flood insurance through the NFIP, wildfire-specific endorsements, or earthquake riders depending on your top hazards. Premiums in these areas can be significantly higher than average.
This is general information only. Consult a licensed insurance professional for advice specific to your property.
Natural Hazard Profile: Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, in the United States in Maryland, is characterized by its humid subtropical climate — warm summers, mild winters, and coastal storm exposure. The county faces tropical storm and nor'easter impacts, and its FEMA risk assessment establishes the hazard baseline shared by all the towns and cities it contains.
Prince George's County's overall natural disaster risk is rated 8.3/10 (Very High) by FEMA's National Risk Index. High lightning activity is the primary natural hazard concern, driven by frequent severe thunderstorm development that produces dense ground strike patterns across the area. Secondary hazards include winter and heat.
Within Maryland, Prince George's County's risk is, considerably above the 6.5/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks well above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Prince George's County identifies lightning as the foremost hazard, followed by winter and heat. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.
Given Prince George's County's very high risk classification, residents should treat disaster preparedness as a year-round priority. This means maintaining updated homeowners and flood insurance, building a 72-hour emergency kit, knowing the evacuation routes for the primary hazards, and signing up for local emergency alert systems.
What this means for Prince George's County: Lightning preparedness
- Avoid plumbing and corded electronics during active thunderstorms.
- Install whole-home surge protection to shield electronics from strike-related power surges.
- Follow the "when thunder roars, go indoors" rule and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Cities in Prince George's County
ZIP codes in Prince George's County
Data source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Scores normalized to 1–10 across all US counties. For informational purposes only.