Skip to Main Content

Facts and Figures

Did You Know?

  • Floods are the number one natural disaster in the United States.
  • Just an inch of water can cause costly damage to property.
  • Everyone is at risk - due to weather systems, runoff or drainage issues.
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.
  • More than 50 percent of properties in high-risk areas remain unprotected by flood insurance all properties in high-risk areas need to be protected with flood insurance.
  • Over 20 percent of all flood insurance claims are filed in low-to moderate-risk areas.
  • There is a 26 percent chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage, compared to a 9 percent chance of fire for buildings in high-risk flood areas.
  • Flood losses in the United States averaged $2.4 billion per year in the 1990s and 2000s.
  • The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) paid nearly $16 billion in flood insurance claims to policyholders during the 2005 hurricane season (as of August 31, 2006).
  • In the last 50 years, nearly 1,000 flood events have been designated as federally-declared disasters.
  • Nearly 75 percent of all federally-declared disasters over the past five years involved flooding.

To learn more about your flood insurance options, visit FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.