Ellicott City, Maryland Flood Zones
Ellicott City became a national flash flood poster child after devastating floods destroyed its historic Main Street in both 2016 and 2018. The steep Tiber River and Hudson Branch watersheds funnel extreme rainfall directly into the narrow valley.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Howard 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
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $29.9M
Coastal Flood Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $632
Hurricane Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $3.7M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Howard County
Howard County has been included in 11 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 3 earlier declarations since 1971.
These declarations affected communities across Howard County, including Ellicott City.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Howard County
Properties in Howard County have filed 421 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $15.8M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $37K.
Highest-Claim Years
2018
121 claims - $8.0M
2016
74 claims - $6.6M
2011
36 claims - $452K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
231
Zone AE
117
Zone A
67
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Ellicott City
Properties in Ellicott City, MD are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Ellicott City
Ellicott City faces multiple inland flood threats, including riverine flooding from nearby waterways and flash flooding from intense rainfall overwhelming urban drainage systems. Properties near river corridors face the highest risk, but stormwater backup can affect neighborhoods well outside the mapped floodplain. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Ellicott City are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $29.9M.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in Ellicott City depend heavily on a property's elevation relative to nearby waterways and the local drainage infrastructure. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 prices in multiple inland flood sources rather than relying on the flood zone line alone. 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.
Flood zone boundaries in Ellicott City can shift when FEMA updates its Flood Insurance Studies or when upstream development changes how water moves through the watershed. New stormwater infrastructure or dam modifications can also trigger map revisions. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Ellicott City address.
Check Your Ellicott City Address
Enter any Ellicott City, MD address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupEllicott City, MD Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Ellicott City, MD?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Ellicott City are Zone AE, 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 Ellicott City?
If your Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City?
Enter your Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City?
Ellicott City is primarily affected by river overflow combined with urban drainage challenges. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Ellicott City address.
Has Ellicott City experienced major flooding events?
Howard County, where Ellicott City is located, has been part of 11 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storm and Flooding in 2018. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Ellicott City?
Howard County has recorded 421 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $15.8M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2018, with 121 claims and $8.0M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Ellicott City.
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