La Plata Maryland is the county seat of Charles County — which sits between the Potomac River and Patuxent River at the southern end of Maryland's DC suburb corridor. Naval Air Station Patuxent River is to the southeast and the Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center — a major Navy explosives research and manufacturing facility — is in Indian Head MD in Charles County. The town was struck by a catastrophic F5 tornado in April 2002 that killed 3 people and destroyed hundreds of structures, demonstrating the significant tornado risk for this region.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 6 / 10 Moderate |
| Primary Hazard | Military / Tornado / Flooding |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Moderate |
| County FEMA Declarations | 7 |
| Last Major Event | Dorian 2019 |
// Emergency Information
| Emergency Phone | 301-932-3202 |
| Evacuation Routes | State and US highways |
| Elevation | 188 ft above sea level |
// County Risk Profile
Charles County MD
Maryland · Hurricane / Chesapeake Flooding
View full county emergency preparedness profile →
6/10
Moderate Risk