Tempe, AZ Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Tempe sits along the Salt River and faces flood risk from both riverine flooding and urban flash flooding during monsoon events. Tempe Town Lake was created in part to manage flooding along the Salt River channel.
Maricopa County has recorded 2,633 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $26.1M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 9
NFIP Policies
14,302
Maricopa County
Avg. Premium
$651/yr
Maricopa County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Maricopa County
Properties in Maricopa County have filed 2,633 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $26.1M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $10K.
Highest-Claim Years
1978
317 claims - $2.1M
1980
266 claims - $2.1M
2014
247 claims - $7.5M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Maricopa County
Only roughly 1 in 122 households in Maricopa County carries NFIP flood insurance (0.8% of estimated households). With 661 recorded flood events and $68.9M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.8%
roughly 1 in 122 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 6
2,633 claims over 45+ years across 14,302 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$9,900
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Maricopa County has averaged 1 claim for every 6 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Tempe.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Maricopa County
Maricopa County has 104 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 4 severe repetitive loss properties. 3 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced August 2026.
Multiple Loss
104
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
4
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
3
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 90 of 104 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Tempe
Tempe participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 5
SFHA Premium Discount
25% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Tempe's Class 5 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 25% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Maricopa County
Maricopa County has been included in 10 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 2 earlier declarations since 1966.
These declarations affected communities across Maricopa County, including Tempe.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Maricopa County
NOAA has recorded 661 flood events in Maricopa County since 1996, causing $68.9M in damage and 19 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Maricopa County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 136 properties in Maricopa County, investing $2.6M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
Levee Protection: Tempe
The USACE National Levee Database lists 4 levee systems protecting parts of Tempe. A system's FEMA accreditation status determines how its protected area is mapped: accredited levees are typically mapped as Zone X, while non-accredited or provisionally accredited systems generally leave their protected area in the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until certification is complete.
Maricopa County Levee 21
AccreditedProtects against: Salt River - Sponsor: Unknown Levee Owner - 3.01 sq mi protected
Maricopa County Levee 80
Status UnclearProtects against: Salt River - Sponsor: Maricopa County, AZ, Flood Control District - 0.81 sq mi protected
Indian Bend Wash 4
Status UnclearProtects against: Indian Bend Wash - Sponsor: City of Scottsdale, Maricopa County, AZ, Flood Control District - 5.48 sq mi protected
Indian Bend Wash 1
AccreditedProtects against: Indian Bend Wash - Sponsor: Maricopa County, AZ, Flood Control District - 1.03 sq mi protected
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Maricopa County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $1.1B
Hurricane Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $12K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Tempe
Tempe is vulnerable to flash flooding, where intense rainfall overwhelms drainage systems and sends water rushing through streets, arroyos, or low-lying areas within minutes. Unlike river flooding, flash floods arrive with little warning and can be deadly in urban areas and desert terrain. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Tempe are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $1.1B.
Flash flood risk is difficult to predict by zone alone because intense localized rainfall can flood areas outside mapped SFHA boundaries. Under Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA accounts for distance to water, drainage characteristics, and rainfall intensity, not just the flood zone line on a map. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Flash flood zone boundaries may shift when FEMA updates its stormwater drainage studies or when new development changes runoff patterns. Urbanization, in particular, increases impervious surface area and can expand flood risk into previously unaffected neighborhoods. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Tempe address.
Tempe, AZ Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Tempe, AZ?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Tempe are Zone AE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Tempe?
If your Tempe property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
How do I check my flood zone in Tempe?
Enter your Tempe address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Tempe offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Tempe participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 5 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 25% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has Tempe experienced major flooding events?
Maricopa County, where Tempe is located, has been part of 10 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in 2014. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Tempe?
Maricopa County has recorded 2,633 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $26.1M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1978, with 317 claims and $2.1M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Tempe.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Tempe?
Maricopa County had 14,302 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $651. The most policies are in Zone AO (5,731 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Tempe properties have flooded repeatedly?
Maricopa County has 104 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 4 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Is Tempe protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 4 levee systems protecting parts of Tempe. Some of these are FEMA-accredited and some are not - accreditation status varies by system, and only the accredited ones map their protected area as Zone X. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my Tempe property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Tempe?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Tempe's Zone AE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
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See the Flood Map for Any Tempe, AZ Address
Enter a Tempe, AZ address to view its FEMA flood map, zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.