The Patuxent has flooded Laurel's historic district, most notably on January 31, 2013, when heavy overnight rain and dam releases forced evacuations of several hundred people. Bowie's flood warnings have named Governor's Bridge Road and the MD 3 and MD 450 intersection as most vulnerable. Flood needs a separate policy; a homeowners policy generally excludes it.
Key takeaways
- On January 31, 2013, heavy overnight rain and dam releases flooded Laurel's historic district along the Patuxent, forcing the evacuation of several hundred people, and one person died.
- Bowie's flood warnings have named Governor's Bridge Road and the MD 3 and MD 450 intersection as the places most vulnerable to flooding.
- A 1998 state grant funded buyouts of three repeat-loss properties, one of them on Lanham-Severn Road in Bowie near Folly Branch, which shows that some lots have flooded more than once.
- Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood, which needs a separate policy such as one under the National Flood Insurance Program, and backup needs an endorsement.
- River flood water is treated as contaminated, so cleanup involves removal of porous materials, disinfecting and drying.
What happened in Laurel in January 2013?
On January 31, 2013, heavy overnight rain and dam releases flooded the downtown historic district of Laurel on the Patuxent River. Several hundred people were evacuated, the river rose over roads and close to bridge decks, and one person died. News reports documented the event, and it remains the local reference flood.
Laurel sits on the Patuxent along the Prince George's and Howard county line. Its historic district stands close to the river, and the older houses and shops there are the most exposed to basement water when the river rises. The event showed how quickly a winter storm can combine rain, saturated ground and releases from upstream dams.
The 2013 flood is a useful reminder that river flooding is not only a summer story. The conditions were wet ground, heavy rain and cold weather, and the damage came in the middle of winter, when drying is slower.
What does Bowie's flood record say?
Bowie's flood warnings have named Governor's Bridge Road and the MD 3 and MD 450 intersection as the places most vulnerable to flooding, according to a local news report. The date of that report was not shown. A 1998 state grant funded buyouts of three repeat-loss properties, including one on Lanham-Severn Road near Folly Branch.
Bowie's share of floodplain was not available for this guide, and neither was the flood history of Collington Branch, so those are left out rather than guessed. What is documented is that the city has issued warnings naming specific places, and that at least one property was bought out because it flooded repeatedly.
The Patuxent is tidal up to the Western Branch confluence, according to the county's flood information, which also lists watershed studies for the Anacostia, Collington Branch and Western Branch. Mapped floodplains are a guide, and the county says most recent flooding came from intense, localized, short storms that can reach homes outside the maps.
Local news reports are the source for the warnings, and they did not carry a date, so no year is given here. The honest reading is that the city has named these places, not that a particular flood occurred at a particular time.
| Place or event | What the record says | What it means for owners |
|---|---|---|
| Laurel historic district, January 31, 2013 | Overnight rain and dam releases flooded downtown; several hundred evacuated; one death | Older homes near the river are the most exposed to basement water |
| Governor's Bridge Road, Bowie | Named in Bowie flood warnings as most vulnerable | Expect road closures and avoid driving through water |
| MD 3 and MD 450 intersection, Bowie | Named in Bowie flood warnings as most vulnerable | Plan alternate routes during heavy rain |
| Lanham-Severn Road near Folly Branch | A 1998 state grant bought out a repeat-loss property | Some lots have flooded more than once |
| Patuxent River, tidal reach | Tidal up to the Western Branch confluence | Check flood zone status near tidal water |
Does a standard homeowners policy cover river flooding?
Generally not. Maryland Insurance Administration guidance says standard homeowners policies generally exclude flood, which needs a separate policy such as one under the National Flood Insurance Program. Water or sewer backup needs its own endorsement, which Maryland law requires insurers to offer, and it does not cover flood or surface water.
That leaves an owner near the Patuxent with three separate questions: do I have flood cover, do I have a backup endorsement, and what does my homeowners policy say about the water that came in. Flood policies often have a waiting period, so the time to ask is before a forecast, not after.
Nothing here can predict what any insurer will decide. What the guidance does say is that the cause and the route of the water decide which policy responds, so describe them exactly.
How is river flood cleanup different?
River water crosses roads, yards and drains before it reaches a house, so it is treated as contaminated. The cleanup removes mud, discards porous materials the water touched, cleans and disinfects surfaces, and dries the structure with air movers and dehumidifiers. It is closer to sewage cleanup than to a burst-pipe job.
Silt is a major part of the work. It settles in carpet, wall cavities and crawl spaces, and it dries hard if left. Removing it early saves time.
Appliances, furnaces and water heaters that sat in the water need a technician's check before use. For the full process, see flood damage cleanup and basement water damage.
How does river flooding differ from the flash floods elsewhere in the county?
River floods rise over hours as upstream rain and dam releases arrive, and they can reach properties along the Patuxent that stay dry in an ordinary storm. Flash floods, which the county says cause most recent flooding, come from short, intense local rain and can strike anywhere. The cleanup is similar, but the warning time and the risk map differ.
Along the Patuxent, a river gauge and a forecast give some warning, which is why city and county warnings name specific roads. In a flash flood on a creek like the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia, the rise can come in less time than it takes to read a warning.
Both can happen in one year. A homeowner in Bowie may face the river on Governor's Bridge Road and a flash flood on a lower street after a summer storm, so it helps to read the companion guide on flash floods and wet basements in Prince George's County.
What can owners near the river do before a storm?
Know your flood zone status, ask about flood and backup coverage well ahead of a forecast, keep valuables above the floor, test the sump pump and keep important papers in a waterproof container. Watch for flood warnings and plan alternate routes, because roads near the river can close. Photograph the house in dry weather as a baseline.
If you live near tidal water, the effect of tides on drainage can add to the risk in a storm, and the county's flood information is the place to check for studies on your watershed.
If you are buying a house near the Patuxent, ask the seller about water history, ask your agent about flood cover and look at the lower level and the crawl space with a moisture meter before closing.
Keep a short timeline: when the water entered, how high it rose, when it fell, when you called, and what you did. It takes five minutes to write and is the document people ask for first.
- Check your flood zone status and ask about a flood policy
- Ask your agent about a water and sewer backup endorsement
- Move valuables and papers above floor level
- Test the sump pump and clear the discharge line
- Know the road closure points on Governor's Bridge Road and MD 3/MD 450
- Photograph the house in dry weather as a baseline
What should I do when river water reaches the house?
Stay out if water reaches outlets or the panel, and do not drive through flooded roads. Photograph the high-water mark before it falls, tell your insurer promptly and call for cleanup. Phones are answered 24/7 and a crew is dispatched as fast as one is available, though demand after a regional storm can be high and no arrival time can be promised.
Wear boots and gloves if you must handle anything, keep children and pets out of the water, and treat everything the water touched as contaminated. Food, medicines and cosmetics that touched the water should be discarded unless sealed in waterproof containers.
Mold needs moisture and time, and the EPA advises drying within 24 to 48 hours, so extraction and drying should start as soon as it is safe. Public help may exist in a declared disaster, but eligibility and timing are for the agencies to decide.
What does recovery look like over the first weeks?
Recovery follows an order: make the building safe, remove water and mud, discard porous materials, clean and disinfect, dry to a measured goal, then repair. The first two steps take days. Drying takes several days to a week or more, and rebuilding takes longer, because it waits for the structure to test dry and for supplies and permits.
Plan for disruption. If the lower level is unusable, a household may need to double up elsewhere. Equipment is noisy and runs around the clock, and rebuilding means more contractors in the house.
Ask for the plan in writing, with a dry goal and a schedule of readings. In Maryland, ask for the Home Improvement Commission licence number of any contractor doing repairs or rebuilding, and check it on the state lookup. If your house sits in a floodplain, ask the county permit office about requirements before major repairs.
| Stage | What happens | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | Power off by someone who can reach the panel dry; hazards checked | Stay out until it is safe; do not drive through water |
| Documentation | Photos of the high-water mark and damage | Photograph before cleanup; start a timeline |
| Water and mud removal | Pumping in stages; silt shoveled and vacuumed | Call early; mud hardens |
| Removal and cleaning | Porous materials discarded; surfaces disinfected | Approve the list; keep photos |
| Drying | Air movers and dehumidifiers with daily readings | Ask for the log |
| Repairs | Rebuilding after readings are dry | Get licence and written scope first |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bowie in a floodplain?
The share of Bowie in a floodplain was not available for this guide. The city has issued flood warnings naming Governor's Bridge Road and the MD 3 and MD 450 intersection, so check the county's flood information and your own address.
Did the Laurel flood happen only once?
January 31, 2013 is the best-documented event. Other floods have affected the Patuxent and nearby creeks, but dates and details were not confirmed for this guide, so they are not described.
Do I need flood insurance if I am outside the mapped floodplain?
Flood can reach homes outside the maps, because the county says most recent flooding came from intense, localized storms. Whether to buy a policy is your decision, and your agent can explain the cost, the waiting period and the limits.
Is flood water dangerous to touch?
It can be. River and surface water pick up soil, chemicals and sewage, and is classed as Category 3. Wear boots and gloves if you must handle anything, and wash well afterward.
Who can help after a major flood?
In a declared disaster, FEMA may offer assistance, and the county posts information after major events. Private insurers and, where relevant, flood policies are separate. A cleanup crew can document and dry the house, but cannot promise any payment.
Sources
This guide is general information for Prince George's County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.