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Hazards

Floods

Federal flood insurance claims since 1978, river crests at every National Weather Service flood gauge, and the deadliest floods in the record.

  • 2.66Mflood insurance claims since 1978
  • $89Bpaid on those claims
  • 2005most claims in one year, 276,670
  • 117deaths in the deadliest flood since 1996

Claims each year

Spikes mark the great flood years: hurricanes Katrina in 2005, Harvey in 2017 and Ian in 2022 among them.

Federal flood insurance claims per year since 1978 1978: 33,823 1979: 78,952 1980: 49,906 1981: 27,935 1982: 37,821 1983: 61,511 1984: 34,248 1985: 45,127 1986: 16,520 1987: 17,077 1988: 11,219 1989: 47,741 1990: 18,889 1991: 36,104 1992: 61,002 1993: 45,006 1994: 28,487 1995: 79,309 1996: 66,714 1997: 37,913 1998: 80,968 1999: 67,954 2000: 23,167 2001: 54,245 2002: 34,415 2003: 47,327 2004: 75,339 2005: 276,670 276,670 2006: 29,562 2007: 28,216 2008: 96,327 2009: 37,375 2010: 37,543 2011: 95,826 2012: 175,519 2013: 23,863 2014: 18,723 2015: 34,514 2016: 85,363 2017: 145,017 2018: 42,508 2019: 35,080 2020: 33,010 2021: 46,617 2022: 60,138 2023: 21,667 2024: 102,018 2025: 13,133 1978198319881993199820032008201320182023

The worst flood years

Years with the most flood insurance claims
2005276,670$18 billion
2012175,519$9.7 billion
2017145,017$11 billion
2024102,018$8.8 billion
200896,327$3.5 billion
201195,826$2.4 billion
201685,363$4.5 billion
199880,968$873 million
199579,309$1.3 billion
197978,952$448 million

The deadliest floods since 1996

Flash floods and river floods by storm system, from the Storm Events Database.

Deadliest floods since 1996
Jul 4, 2025Flash FloodBandera, Kendall, Kerr TX117$205 million
Sep 25, 2024Flash FloodAlexander, Avery, Buncombe NC83$1.7 billion
Aug 25, 2017Flash FloodAustin, Brazoria, Brazos TX55$41 billion
Jul 27, 2022Flash FloodBell, Breathitt, Clay KY40$35,000
Oct 28, 2012Coastal FloodBronx, Kings, Nassau NY39—
Oct 17, 1998Flash FloodAtascosa, Bandera, Bastrop TX25$135 million
Jun 9, 2010Flash FloodClark, Montgomery, Pike AR20$9.1 million
Sep 14, 2015Flash FloodWashington UT20$750,000
Aug 26, 2017Flash FloodHardin, Jasper, Jefferson TX20$5.3 billion
Aug 21, 2021Flash FloodDickson, Hickman, Houston TN20$101 million
Sep 15, 1999Flash FloodCumberland, Edgecombe, Franklin NC19—
May 1, 2010FloodBenton, Cheatham, Clay TN18$1.6 billion
Sep 1, 2021Flash FloodBronx, Kings, Nassau NY18$471 million
Sep 25, 2024Flash FloodBlount, Campbell, Carter TN18$152 million
Oct 8, 2016FloodAlamance, Anson, Chatham NC16$692 million
Jun 23, 2016Flash FloodGreenbrier, Summers WV16$41.0 million
Sep 1, 2021Flash FloodBurlington, Camden, Hunterdon NJ16$220 million
Sep 27, 2022FloodBrevard, Indian River, Lake FL16$1.1 billion
Dec 26, 2015Flash FloodBarry, Barton, Camden MO15$44.9 million
May 23, 2015Flash FloodBastrop, Bexar, Blanco TX14$220 million
May 31, 2013Flash FloodBlaine, Caddo, Canadian OK13$592,000
Sep 1, 2021Flash FloodBergen, Essex, Hudson NJ13—
Jun 11, 2025Flash FloodAtascosa, Bexar, Comal TX13$23.1 million
Aug 11, 2016FloodAscension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana LA12$7.0 billion
Aug 3, 1997Flash FloodApache, Coconino, Gila AZ11$352,000

River crests

5,753 National Weather Service river and coastal gauges list a crest above flood stage; 3,423 have reached major flood stage. Each has its own page with every listed crest.

Gauges reaching major flood stage each year since 1900 1900: 18 1901: 12 1902: 26 1903: 34 1904: 29 1905: 9 1906: 16 1907: 20 1908: 43 1909: 9 1910: 9 1911: 5 1912: 22 1913: 156 1914: 12 1915: 35 1916: 60 1917: 12 1918: 22 1919: 46 1920: 22 1921: 23 1922: 37 1923: 27 1924: 27 1925: 21 1926: 22 1927: 87 1928: 50 1929: 99 1930: 26 1931: 5 1932: 61 1933: 73 1934: 27 1935: 97 1936: 201 1937: 132 1938: 153 1939: 44 1940: 96 1941: 51 1942: 108 1943: 120 1944: 69 1945: 169 1946: 83 1947: 94 1948: 169 1949: 85 1950: 162 1951: 118 1952: 108 1953: 72 1954: 77 1955: 151 1956: 40 1957: 151 1958: 65 1959: 116 1960: 104 1961: 120 1962: 77 1963: 52 1964: 180 1965: 118 1966: 67 1967: 68 1968: 56 1969: 153 1970: 41 1971: 86 1972: 218 1973: 219 1974: 120 1975: 150 1976: 59 1977: 87 1978: 114 1979: 233 1980: 84 1981: 73 1982: 181 1983: 126 1984: 116 1985: 170 1986: 171 1987: 126 1988: 20 1989: 105 1990: 220 1991: 125 1992: 80 1993: 290 1994: 146 1995: 158 1996: 315 1997: 269 1998: 219 1999: 139 2000: 53 2001: 145 2002: 133 2003: 131 2004: 235 2005: 171 2006: 171 2007: 191 2008: 353 2009: 217 2010: 263 2011: 409 409 2012: 129 2013: 222 2014: 129 2015: 289 2016: 294 2017: 337 2018: 286 2019: 405 2020: 163 2021: 166 2022: 123 2023: 135 2024: 286 2025: 180 1900191019201930194019501960197019801990200020102020

The months with the most gauges at major flood

Months with the most river gauges at major flood stage
June 2008164IA, IL, IN, MN, MO, ND, NE, OK and 3 moreEastern Stump Lake near Lakota ND; Devils Lake near Devils Lake ND; Cedar River at Cedar Rapids IA
March 1936148CT, DC, GA, MA, MD, ME, NE, NH and 8 morePotomac River at Paw Paw MD; Potomac River at Shepherdstown WV; Potomac River at Point of Rocks MD
June 1972147DC, DE, MD, MT, NC, NJ, NY, OH and 5 moreRappahannock River at Fredericksburg VA; Potomac River at Point of Rocks MD; Monocacy River near Frederick at Interstate 70 MD
September 2004135AL, DE, FL, GA, IA, MD, MN, NC and 9 moreEastern Stump Lake near Lakota ND; Johns River at Corpening Bridge Rd, 6 NNW Morganton NC; Little Muskingum at Bloomfield OH
March 2019131AR, IA, IL, KS, LA, MN, MO, MS and 4 moreOhio River at Cairo IL; Missouri River at St. Joseph MO; Big Sioux River above Hawarden SD
August 2011125CT, DE, MA, MD, NC, NH, NJ, NY and 3 moreSchoharie Creek at Gilboa Bridge NY; Deerfield River at West Deerfield MA; Millstone River at Griggstown NJ
January 1996123DC, GA, MD, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA and 1 morePotomac River at Point of Rocks MD; Potomac River at Shepherdstown WV; Potomac River at Paw Paw MD
July 1993120IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE and 3 moreGrand River near Sumner MO; Missouri River near Chamois MO; Missouri River at Boonville MO
May 2019113AR, IA, IL, KS, LA, MO, MS, MT and 4 moreOnion Creek near Driftwood TX; Bird Creek at Avant OK; Walnut River at Winfield KS
December 2015105AK, AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, KS, MO and 7 moreMeramec River near Eureka MO; Meramec River at Valley Park MO; Meramec River at Arnold MO
April 2011105AL, AR, DE, IA, IL, IN, MD, MN and 11 moreRed River of the North at Grand Forks ND; Red River of the North at Fargo ND; Illinois River (AR OK) at Chewey OK
March 1913102GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, NC, NH, NY and 4 moreEast Fork White River at Rivervale IN; East Fork White River near Bedford IN; Ohio River at Belleville Lock WV
September 201798FL, GA, LA, OK, SC, TXSan Bernard River near Old Ocean TX; Neches River at Saltwater Barrier TX; Neches River at Beaumont TX
April 201397IA, IL, IN, MI, MO, ND, WIWabash River at Montezuma IN; Illinois River at Starved Rock Lock (tailwater) IL; Illinois River at Beardstown IL
September 201892AL, CT, DE, IA, IL, KS, MD, NC and 7 moreCape Fear River at W.O. Huske Lock NC; Cape Fear River at Fayetteville NC; Little River at Manchester NC
April 197992AL, AR, GA, IL, LA, ME, MN, MO and 4 moreTombigbee River at Demopolis Lock and Dam AL; Tombigbee River near Coffeeville Dam AL; Red River of the North at Grand Forks ND
April 199790FL, IA, IL, LA, MN, MS, ND, OK and 3 moreRed River of the North at Grand Forks ND; Red River of the North at Fargo ND; Sandhill River at Climax MN
November 198586AR, DC, IL, LA, MD, MO, PA, TX and 2 moreSouth Branch Potomac River near Springfield WV; Potomac River at Paw Paw MD; North River near Burketown VA
September 199985DE, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, VATar River at Tarboro NC; Tar River at Greenville NC; Contentnea Creek at Hookerton NC
October 198684AK, AR, IA, IL, KS, MI, MO, MT and 2 moreOsage River near Schell City MO; Blackwater River near Blue Lick MO; Devils River at Bakers Crossing near Juno TX

Highest crest on record, set in the last five years

  1. COAnimas River above Cedar Hill11.9 ft · Oct 24, 2026
  2. COSan Juan River at Pagosa Springs15.0 ft · Oct 23, 2026
  3. FLThomas Creek (in NAVD88)4.4 ft · Oct 11, 2026
  4. NCDutch Creek at Broadstone Road8.2 ft · Oct 11, 2026
  5. NCEF New River at Deerfield Road8.0 ft · Oct 11, 2026
  6. NCWatauga River at Aldridge Road9.0 ft · Oct 11, 2026
  7. FLKings Ferry (in MHHW)1.5 ft · Oct 10, 2026
  8. FLSt Johns River at Welaka (in MHHW)2.0 ft · Oct 10, 2026
  9. FLMickler at 16th Street Culvert in St Augustine Beach (in NAVD88)6.2 ft · Oct 9, 2026
  10. FLMickler at A Street Canal in St Augustine Beach (in NAVD88)7.2 ft · Oct 9, 2026
  11. FLBroward River at Cedar Heights (in MHHW)2.3 ft · Oct 7, 2026
  12. NESalt Creek near Greenwood27.7 ft · Oct 1, 2026

NOAA National Water Prediction Service. Crests are those each National Weather Service office lists for its gauges (the highest on record and recent crests), so the yearly counts are a floor and lean toward recent decades. Categories use today's flood stages.

Where claims are filed

States with the most flood insurance claims, and the county rankings.

  1. 1Louisiana481,242
  2. 2Florida447,174
  3. 3Texas392,075
  4. 4New Jersey201,761
  5. 5New York174,558
  6. 6North Carolina108,748
  7. 7Pennsylvania75,803
  8. 8Mississippi62,876
  9. 9California53,270
  10. 10Illinois51,163
  11. 11Virginia50,040
  12. 12South Carolina49,301
  13. 13Missouri49,098
  14. 14Alabama44,088
  15. 15Massachusetts35,063

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency’s website(s).