Here is a link to “Flood insurance facts” with some highlights called out below.
Flooding statistics
- 90% of natural disasters in the United States involve a flood, making flooding the most frequent and the most expensive natural disaster in the country. (FEMA)
- More than 20% of all National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims come from outside the areas of highest risk. (FEMA)
- A single inch of water in a home can cause more than $25,000 in property damage. (FEMA)
- Flooding can be caused by a number of things, including snow melt, heavy rains, flash floods and mudflows. (DoSomething.org)
- While some states have a higher risk of flooding than others, data shows that all 50 states are subject to flash floods. (DoSomething.org)
- Hurricane Katrina was the most expensive flood on record in the country. The damages resulted in roughly $16 billion in insured losses. (Triple-I)
- In the United States, there are more than 7.5 million homes at risk of damage from a category 5 storm surge. (Triple-I)
- In 2022 alone, there have been 76 flood-related fatalities. (Weather.gov)
- A majority of the flood-related deaths in 2022 have occurred at home, followed by flood-related deaths while driving. (NWS)
- The majority of flood deaths in the country in 2022 have been among people between the ages of 60-79. (NWS)