Flood Facts

Floods are the most common natural disaster in the US and cause the most damage out of all natural disasters. In fact, 90% of natural disasters involve flooding. Here are some more facts about flooding in the United States:

- All 50 US states have experienced flooding or flash flooding in the past 5 years.

- Flooding is the only natural hazard for which the Federal government provides insurance: FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

- More than 20% of flood claims occur in moderate- to low-risk areas.

- Many federally backed flood Insurance policies have a 30 day waiting period. Some private market flood insurance policies have shorter waiting periods. Learn more.

- Just one inch of water can cause more than $25,000 in damage.

- There are three primary types of flooding, Coastal Flooding, River Flooding (Fluvial), Surface Water Flooding (Pluvial), and Other Types of Flooding.

- Implementing local floodplain ordinances prevents approximately $1.1 billion in flood damages annually.

- Approximately 38% of all National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims are repetitive loss claims.

- Homes in a "100-year" floodplain have a 26% chance of flooding over a 30-year period—the length of a typical mortgage.

- Floods, on average, cost $6 billion in average annual losses.

- The main causes of floods in the Eastern United States and the Gulf Coast are hurricanes and storms.

- The main causes of floods in the Western United States are snowmelt and rainstorms.