Newport, Rhode Island Flood Zones
Newport faces coastal flooding from Narragansett Bay and Atlantic Ocean storms. The historic waterfront and low-lying areas are vulnerable to storm surge and increasing tidal flooding from sea level rise.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Newport 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 LowEst. annual loss: $8.7M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $754K
Hurricane Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $2.4M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Newport (County)(in PMSA 2480,6480) County
Newport (County)(in PMSA 2480,6480) County has been included in 8 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 1 earlier declaration since 1985.
These declarations affected communities across Newport (County)(in PMSA 2480,6480) County, including Newport.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Newport County
Properties in Newport County have filed 804 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $11.8M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $15K.
Highest-Claim Years
1991
222 claims - $2.3M
2012
138 claims - $4.5M
2010
85 claims - $500K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
244
Zone AE
194
Zone X
191
Zone VE
89
Zone V
74
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Newport
Properties in Newport, RI are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Newport
Newport is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Newport are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $8.7M. Properties in Newport's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Coastal flood insurance premiums in Newport are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. 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.
Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Newport address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Newport
Newport 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 7
SFHA Premium Discount
15% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Newport's Class 7 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 15% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Check Your Newport Address
Enter any Newport, RI address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupNewport, RI Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Newport, RI?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Newport are Zone AE, Zone VE, 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 Newport?
If your Newport 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 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Newport?
Enter your Newport 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 Newport offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Newport participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 7 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 15% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Has Newport experienced major flooding events?
Newport (County)(in PMSA 2480,6480) County, where Newport is located, has been part of 8 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Henri in 2021. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Newport?
Newport County has recorded 804 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $11.8M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1991, with 222 claims and $2.3M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Newport.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026