Cleveland, OH Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 2026
Cleveland faces flooding from the Cuyahoga River, Lake Erie storm surge, and urban stormwater. The city's aging combined sewer system contributes to basement flooding and combined sewer overflows during heavy rain.
Cuyahoga County has recorded 1,730 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $35.0M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 5
NFIP Policies
1,440
Cuyahoga County
Avg. Premium
$1,017/yr
Cuyahoga County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Cuyahoga County
Properties in Cuyahoga County have filed 1,730 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $35.0M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $20K.
Highest-Claim Years
2011
209 claims - $7.4M
1979
152 claims - $1.1M
1994
121 claims - $2.7M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced August 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Cuyahoga County
Only roughly 1 in 347 households in Cuyahoga County carries NFIP flood insurance (0.3% of estimated households). With 114 recorded flood events and $113.2M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.3%
roughly 1 in 347 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
1,730 claims over 45+ years across 1,440 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$20,251
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Cuyahoga County has averaged 1.2 claims for every active policy (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 Cleveland.
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: Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County has 147 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 25 severe repetitive loss properties. 14 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
147
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
25
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
14
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 142 of 147 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County has been included in 6 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
These declarations affected communities across Cuyahoga County, including Cleveland.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced August 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Cuyahoga County
NOAA has recorded 114 flood events in Cuyahoga County since 1996, causing $113.2M in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Cuyahoga County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 207 properties in Cuyahoga County, investing $11.1M 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: Cleveland
The USACE National Levee Database lists 1 levee system protecting parts of Cleveland. 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.
Euclid Creek - Cleveland - Right Bank and Channel
Non-AccreditedProtects against: Euclid Creek - Sponsor: City of Cleveland - 0.01 sq mi protected
Source: USACE National Levee Database. Data sourced August 2026. Learn how levees affect flood zone mapping.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Cuyahoga 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
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $177.8M
Coastal Flood Risk
Very LowEst. annual loss: $6K
Hurricane Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $229K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Cleveland
Cleveland faces multiple inland flood threats, including riverine flooding from nearby waterways and flash flooding from intense rainfall overwhelming urban drainage systems. Properties near river corridors face the highest risk, but stormwater backup can affect neighborhoods well outside the mapped floodplain. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Cleveland are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $177.8M.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in Cleveland depend heavily on a property's elevation relative to nearby waterways and the local drainage infrastructure. FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 prices in multiple inland flood sources rather than relying on the flood zone line alone. 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.
Flood zone boundaries in Cleveland can shift when FEMA updates its Flood Insurance Studies or when upstream development changes how water moves through the watershed. New stormwater infrastructure or dam modifications can also trigger map revisions. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Cleveland address.
Cleveland, OH Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Cleveland, OH?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Cleveland 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 Cleveland?
If your Cleveland 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 Cleveland?
Enter your Cleveland 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.
How high is flood risk in Cleveland?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Cuyahoga County (where Cleveland is located) has a "Relatively High" rating for inland flood risk. The estimated annual flood loss for the county is $177.8M. This county-level assessment considers historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
Has Cleveland experienced major flooding events?
Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is located, has been part of 6 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding Due To the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy in 2013. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Cleveland?
Cuyahoga County has recorded 1,730 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $35.0M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2011, with 209 claims and $7.4M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Cleveland.
How many flood insurance policies are there in Cleveland?
Cuyahoga County had 1,440 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $1,017. The most policies are in Zone X (942 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 Cleveland properties have flooded repeatedly?
Cuyahoga County has 147 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 25 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 Cleveland protected by a levee?
Yes. The USACE National Levee Database lists 1 levee system protecting parts of Cleveland (Euclid Creek - Cleveland - Right Bank and Channel). None currently carry full FEMA accreditation, which typically keeps the protected area within the Special Flood Hazard Area (often Zone AR or A99) until the levee is certified. Levee protection is system-specific, not city-wide - check the address search above for the zone at a specific property.
Can my Cleveland 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 Cleveland?
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 Cleveland'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.
Understanding Flood Zones
See the Flood Map for Any Cleveland, OH Address
Enter a Cleveland, OH 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.