Flood insurance by county
Most home policies do not cover floods. Here is who has federal flood insurance, where claims are highest, and what to know before you buy.
Highest share insured
Counties over 100,000 people
Flood-prone but few insured
Counties over 250,000 people whose top hazard is flood or hurricane
Most claims paid
NFIP claims paid since 1978
By state
| State | Homes insured | Share of homes | Share | Claims paid since 1978 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 359,013 | 22.0% | $20.9B | |
| Florida | 1,040,464 | 13.7% | $19.3B | |
| South Carolina | 121,413 | 6.1% | $1B | |
| Texas | 504,754 | 5.8% | $17.4B | |
| New Jersey | 121,462 | 5.0% | $6.5B | |
| Delaware | 17,547 | 4.8% | $91M | |
| Hawaii | 11,829 | 3.9% | $167M | |
| Mississippi | 40,942 | 3.5% | $3.1B | |
| Rhode Island | 8,360 | 2.7% | $139M | |
| Virginia | 72,514 | 2.7% | $763M | |
| North Carolina | 106,560 | 2.6% | $2.3B | |
| New York | 118,000 | 2.5% | $5.7B | |
| Connecticut | 21,002 | 2.1% | $0 | |
| Massachusetts | 36,939 | 2.0% | $439M | |
| North Dakota | 4,925 | 1.8% | $258M | |
| Maryland | 33,232 | 1.7% | $340M | |
| Georgia | 58,557 | 1.6% | $518M | |
| New Mexico | 11,342 | 1.4% | $42M | |
| California | 140,683 | 1.3% | $757M | |
| Alabama | 25,579 | 1.3% | $1.2B | |
| Maine | 6,651 | 1.2% | $86M | |
| District of Columbia | 1,443 | 1.1% | $5M | |
| Alaska | 2,707 | 1.1% | $16M | |
| Vermont | 2,848 | 1.1% | $117M | |
| New Hampshire | 4,490 | 1.1% | $67M | |
| Oregon | 16,155 | 1.1% | $109M | |
| West Virginia | 7,746 | 1.0% | $378M | |
| Washington | 23,122 | 0.9% | $367M | |
| Kentucky | 14,136 | 0.8% | $521M | |
| Nevada | 7,964 | 0.8% | $47M | |
| Arkansas | 8,993 | 0.8% | $218M | |
| Tennessee | 18,014 | 0.7% | $479M | |
| Pennsylvania | 31,965 | 0.7% | $1.4B | |
| Nebraska | 5,587 | 0.7% | $96M | |
| Arizona | 17,476 | 0.7% | $62M | |
| Montana | 3,070 | 0.6% | $19M | |
| Colorado | 11,282 | 0.6% | $91M | |
| Idaho | 3,768 | 0.5% | $10M | |
| Illinois | 21,080 | 0.5% | $583M | |
| Indiana | 13,093 | 0.5% | $309M | |
| South Dakota | 2,011 | 0.5% | $62M | |
| Wyoming | 1,305 | 0.5% | $4M | |
| Iowa | 6,602 | 0.5% | $356M | |
| Oklahoma | 6,994 | 0.5% | $258M | |
| Wisconsin | 8,929 | 0.5% | $142M | |
| Kansas | 5,331 | 0.5% | $116M | |
| Missouri | 10,574 | 0.4% | $962M | |
| Ohio | 18,040 | 0.4% | $371M | |
| Michigan | 16,036 | 0.4% | $149M | |
| Utah | 3,169 | 0.3% | $7M | |
| Minnesota | 5,166 | 0.2% | $155M |
National Flood Insurance Program records only. Private flood policies are not counted. Homes insured as of August 2026; claims to September 2026. Figures are not a quote: since 2021 every NFIP policy is priced for the individual building.
Common questions
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
No. Standard home and renters policies exclude flood damage from rising water. You need a separate flood policy.
Where can I buy flood insurance?
Through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), sold by most home insurance agents, or from a private flood insurer. NFIP policies cover up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents.
How long until a flood policy starts?
NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start. The wait is waived in a few cases, such as when a lender requires the policy at closing.
Do I need flood insurance outside a flood zone?
It is not required, but many claims come from homes outside mapped high-risk zones, and policies there tend to cost less.
How is the price set?
Since 2021 NFIP uses Risk Rating 2.0, which prices each building from its own features, such as distance to water, elevation and rebuilding cost. Two homes in the same county can pay very different amounts.