Howard County between Baltimore and Washington DC is the wealthiest county in Maryland. Historic Ellicott City was devastated by catastrophic flash flooding in July 2016 and again in May 2018 when the same location flooded again demonstrating the persistent vulnerability of the historic Main Street corridor to intense rainfall in the watershed above. The county faces moderate tornado risk and the Patuxent River creates flooding risk.
// 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 | 5 / 10 Moderate Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Tornado / Flash Flooding |
| Secondary Hazard | Severe Storm |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Moderate |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 5 |
| Last Major Event | Ellicott City 2016 2018 |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (410) 313-2200 |
| Emergency Shelters | 10 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-95 I-70 MD-32 US-29 |
// County Profile
| County | Howard County MD |
| State | Maryland (MD) |
| Population | 332 |
| Area | 251 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Moderate |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other Maryland Counties
St. Mary’s County MD
Hurricane / Chesapeake Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Baltimore County MD
Hurricane / Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Cecil County MD
Hurricane / Chesapeake Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Charles County MD
Hurricane / Chesapeake Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Prince George’s County MD
Tornado / Flash Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Dorchester County MD
Hurricane / Chesapeake Flooding
6/10
Moderate