Cambridge, Maryland Flood Zones
Cambridge on Maryland's Eastern Shore faces increasing tidal flooding from the Choptank River and Chesapeake Bay. Low-lying neighborhoods experience regular inundation during high tide and storm events.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Dorchester County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $2.3M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $5.8M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $3.5M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Dorchester County
Dorchester County has been included in 8 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 2 earlier declarations since 1972.
These declarations affected communities across Dorchester County, including Cambridge.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Dorchester County
Properties in Dorchester County have filed 1,141 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $20.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $18K.
Highest-Claim Years
2003
706 claims - $14.4M
2021
120 claims - $3.0M
1996
71 claims - $318K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
577
Zone AE
492
Zone X
61
Zone VE
2
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Cambridge
Properties in Cambridge, MD are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Cambridge
Cambridge is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Cambridge are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $2.3M. Properties in Cambridge's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Coastal flood insurance premiums in Cambridge are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Cambridge address.
Check Your Cambridge Address
Enter any Cambridge, MD address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupCambridge, MD Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Cambridge, MD?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Cambridge are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Cambridge?
If your Cambridge property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Cambridge?
Enter your Cambridge address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
What type of flooding affects Cambridge?
Cambridge is primarily affected by coastal flooding including storm surge and wave action. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Cambridge address.
Has Cambridge experienced major flooding events?
Dorchester County, where Cambridge is located, has been part of 8 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Tropical Storm Isaias in 2021. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Cambridge?
Dorchester County has recorded 1,141 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $20.2M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2003, with 706 claims and $14.4M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Cambridge.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026