Floods are the number one natural disaster in the United States. The average flood claim between 2008 and 2012 was nearly $42,000. Total flood insurance claims during the same time period was nearly $4 billion dollars per year. People outside of mapped high-risk flood areas file nearly 25% of all the National Flood Insurance Program flood insurance claims and receive one-third of the Federal Disaster Assistance for flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program Statistics:
- Floods are the #1 natural disaster in the United States.
- From 2010 to 2014, the average flood claim amounted to nearly $42,000.
- From 2005 to 2014, total flood insurance claims averaged more than $3.5 billion per year.
- In 2014, the average flood insurance policy premium was about $700 per year.
- Even though flood insurance isn’t federally required, anyone can be financially vulnerable to floods. In fact, people outside of mapped high-risk flood areas file over 20-percent of all National Flood Insurance Program flood insurance claims and receive one-third of Federal Disaster Assistance for flooding.
- The NFIP paid more than $345 million in flood insurance claims to all policyholders in 2014.
2014 CLAIM REPORT FOR THE TOP 10 STATES
| State | Total Number of 2014 Claims |
| Florida | 2,655 |
| Alabama | 1,121 |
| New York | 974 |
| Texas | 741 |
| Pennsylvania | 547 |
| Louisiana | 515 |
| Michigan | 495 |
| Iowa | 487 |
| Ohio | 438 |
| Illinois | 230 |
| State | Total 2014 Claims Payments |
| Florida | $117,861,100 |
| Alabama | $52,668,831 |
| Pennsylvania | $15,751,428 |
| Louisiana | $15,697,280 |
| New York | $14,942,952 |
| Texas | $13,808,268 |
| Ohio | $12,385,821 |
| Iowa | $9,406,938 |
| Michigan | $8,816,751 |
| Maryland | $7,428,119 |
10 States with the highest flood insurance claims (2012)
- New York $3,439,521,916 52,986 claims
- New Jersey $3,256,146,065 63, 805 claims
- Louisiana $ 508,237,253 10,574 claims
- Connecticut $ 216,939,278 5,411 claims
- Florida $ 69,725,734 3,096 claims
- Mississippi $ 43,776,652 1,788 claims
- Texas $ 35,267,156 1,527 claims
- Rhode Island $ 31,380,186 unknown
- Virginia $ 21,605,947 1,147 claims
- Maryland $ 20,067,563 1,237 claims
Sources: FEMA, NFIP, Floodsmart.gov
See related articles:
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FEMA U.S. Flood Map: FEMA U.S. Flood Map
Floods – 3 Steps to Prepare: Floods – 3 Steps to Prepare