ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland state agencies are strengthening flood preparedness and resilience measures across the state in response to the long history of destructive riverine and rainfall-based flooding.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management lead efforts that include habitat restoration, funding for local projects, real-time monitoring and coordinated emergency response.
Maryland has experienced major flooding events including the 1868 Great Flood of the Patapsco Valley, Hurricane Agnes in 1972, the 2016 and 2018 Ellicott City floods, and the May 2025 flooding in Westernport and other Western Maryland communities.
The DNR Watershed and Climate Services team focuses on proactive landscape preparation through habitat and floodplain restoration, reconnection of rivers to natural floodplains, and wetland restoration to slow and absorb floodwaters. These efforts receive support from the DNR Grants Gateway program, which provides funding opportunities for communities to rebuild natural systems.
Through the Grants Gateway Outcome 2 funding source, the DNR assists municipalities with vulnerability assessments, flood-risk mapping, and adaptation strategies for both rainfall and riverine hazards. Funded projects include the Prince George’s County Nuisance Flood Plan addressing urban stormwater flooding and the Town of Chevy Chase View’s Stormwater Management and Climate Resilience Study examining drainage and changing precipitation patterns.
The department also offers technical and financial assistance for natural infrastructure solutions such as rain gardens, bioswales and living shorelines.
The Maryland Department of Emergency Management supports local jurisdictions with all-hazard threat assessments and is updating the FEMA-required State Hazard Mitigation Plan, which incorporates data and stakeholder input to guide mitigation efforts over the next five years. MDEM also coordinates broader resilience work through the Maryland Office of Resilience.
On state-managed public lands, the DNR has installed high-water exit signage and evacuation route markers at Patapsco Valley State Park and other flood-prone areas. River gauges monitor water levels, and park rangers receive training in hazard communication and visitor evacuation. The Program Open Space acquires land to provide public greenspace while helping buffer communities from flood risk.
The state collects flood documentation through MyCoast Maryland, a community science platform where residents submit photos of flooding. The platform links images to real-time precipitation and riverine data, helping agencies identify vulnerable areas and inform planning decisions. This approach supplements traditional monitoring by creating a detailed historical record of flooding patterns.
Flash flooding poses particular dangers because of short warning times, as demonstrated in mountainous Western Maryland and narrow stream valleys. MDEM collaborates with the National Weather Service and the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center to track river and stream gauges and support real-time decisions.
In partnership with the University of Maryland, MDEM is deploying a network of weather stations across the state. Thirty-nine of the planned 74 stations are currently operational, providing hyper-local data for improved forecasting and warnings.
During potential flood events, MDEM conducts statewide emergency manager calls to coordinate resources. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources contributes through its expertise in water resources and floodplains, and deploys Natural Resources Police for swift-water rescue, evacuation support and search operations. Officers monitor marine radio channels and work with the Maryland Joint Operations Center.
In the May 2025 Western Maryland floods, DNR and MDEM coordinated rescue operations, deployed watercraft and high-clearance vehicles, and provided on-the-ground support to county officials.
Southern Maryland communities, while often affected by coastal and tidal influences, benefit from these statewide strategies as they face increasing risks from intense rainfall events. The collaborative framework emphasizes sustained investment in natural and built infrastructure to protect lives, property and watersheds.
As climate patterns shift toward more frequent heavy precipitation, officials stress the importance of community participation in reporting flooding through MyCoast Maryland and heeding official warnings.
The combined efforts of state agencies aim to reduce future impacts by integrating nature-based solutions with advanced monitoring and rapid response capabilities.
