How Likely Is a Tornado in Caroline County, MD?
How likely is a tornado in Caroline County, MD?
Caroline County has recorded 8 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 9.5 years - our Low band. Put another way: Caroline County sees more tornado activity than 24% of US counties. Maryland has 24 counties in this dataset; Caroline County ranks 19 of them by frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
7 weak and 1 significant tornadoes make up Caroline County's 8-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Caroline County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Maryland has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Maryland this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
A direct hit is not required for Caroline County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Maryland regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Caroline County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 319 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Caroline County has about 34,248 residents.