Inland flooding risk by county
Rivers, creeks and streets overflowing after heavy rain or snowmelt. It is the top hazard in more US counties than any other, and standard home insurance does not cover it.
Highest expected losses
| # | County | Rating | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles County, CA | $2.8B | |
| 2 | Riverside County, CA | $1.1B | |
| 3 | Harris County, TX | $1.1B | |
| 4 | Maricopa County, AZ | $1.1B | |
| 5 | Cook County, IL | $1.1B | |
| 6 | San Bernardino County, CA | $960M | |
| 7 | Orange County, CA | $820M | |
| 8 | Santa Clara County, CA | $720M | |
| 9 | San Diego County, CA | $648M | |
| 10 | Alameda County, CA | $491M | |
| 11 | King County, WA | $417M | |
| 12 | Contra Costa County, CA | $412M | |
| 13 | Bexar County, TX | $365M | |
| 14 | Clark County, NV | $362M | |
| 15 | Miami-Dade County, FL | $356M |
Big counties lead this list partly because they have more people and buildings at risk.
Highest per resident
| # | County (100,000+ people) | Per person a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii County, HI | $924 |
| 2 | Kanawha County, WV | $735 |
| 3 | Comal County, TX | $730 |
| 4 | Napa County, CA | $651 |
| 5 | Doña Ana County, NM | $609 |
| 6 | Coconino County, AZ | $592 |
| 7 | Guadalupe County, TX | $582 |
| 8 | Sonoma County, CA | $573 |
| 9 | Livingston Parish, LA | $531 |
| 10 | Douglas County, OR | $504 |
Expected yearly loss divided by population. A fairer way to compare places of different size.
Lowest risk among large counties
| # | County (250,000+ people) | Rating | Per person a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage Municipality, AK | under $1 | |
| 2 | Virginia Beach City, VA | $11 | |
| 3 | Davis County, UT | $45 | |
| 4 | Anne Arundel County, MD | $57 | |
| 5 | Hidalgo County, TX | $64 | |
| 6 | Kings County, NY | $66 | |
| 7 | Montgomery County, MD | $67 | |
| 8 | Salt Lake County, UT | $67 | |
| 9 | Prince George's County, MD | $67 | |
| 10 | Bronx County, NY | $68 |
How ratings are spread
The lists above show only the top counties, so they are all rated high. Across all 3,140 rated counties, most are Low or Very Low:
How to prepare
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Keep important papers and valuables above the lowest floor.
States where it is most often the top hazard
Read more
Moving to a new county? A disaster risk checklist
Eight things to check about natural hazards before you buy or rent in a new place, from flood zones to insurance quotes.
What a county's natural hazard risk rating actually means
How FEMA's National Risk Index rates every US county, why big counties score high, and how to read the numbers on a county page.
Common questions
Which US county has the highest inland flooding risk?
Los Angeles County, CA has the highest expected yearly inland flooding losses in FEMA's National Risk Index, about $2.8 billion a year. Riverside County, CA is second at $1.1 billion.
How many counties face inland flooding risk?
FEMA rates inland flooding in 3,140 of 3,144 counties in the 50 states and DC. 26 are rated Very High and 186 Relatively High.
Is inland flooding covered by home insurance?
No. Flood damage needs a separate flood policy, from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer.
Other hazards
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025). Expected annual loss is FEMA's long-run estimate of yearly damage to buildings, people and farm output, in dollars.