San Antonio, TX Flood Zone Lookup
Last updated: March 2026
San Antonio sits at the edge of the Balcones Escarpment, where steep terrain meets the flat coastal plain, creating extreme flash flood potential. The San Antonio River and numerous urban creeks flood rapidly during intense thunderstorms.
Bexar County has recorded 2,298 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $33.6M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 6
NFIP Policies
6,019
Bexar County
Avg. Premium
$910/yr
Bexar County
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Bexar 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: $364.8M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $2.7M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Bexar County
Bexar County has been included in 15 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 7 earlier declarations since 1988.
These declarations affected communities across Bexar County, including San Antonio.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Bexar County
Properties in Bexar County have filed 2,298 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $33.6M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $15K.
Highest-Claim Years
1998
412 claims - $11.5M
2002
258 claims - $3.7M
2013
186 claims - $5.4M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced March 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Bexar County
Only roughly 1 in 132 households in Bexar County carries NFIP flood insurance (0.8% of estimated households). With 409 recorded flood events and $51.4M in damage, most flood losses in this county are likely uninsured.
Penetration Rate
0.8%
roughly 1 in 132 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 3
2,298 claims over 45+ years across 6,019 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$14,630
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Bexar County has averaged 1 claim for every 3 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 March 2026, claims since 1978 (March 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include San Antonio.
What Your Flood Zone Means in San Antonio
San Antonio 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 San Antonio are Zone AE, Zone AO, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $364.8M. San Antonio has Zone AO areas subject to sheet-flow flooding, where shallow water spreads across broad, flat terrain rather than channeling through waterways.
With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in San Antonio 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 San Antonio 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 San Antonio address.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Bexar County
Bexar County has 166 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 12 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 March 2026.
Multiple Loss
166
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
12
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
3
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 161 of 166 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Bexar County
NOAA has recorded 409 flood events in Bexar County since 1996, causing $51.4M in damage and 46 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Bexar County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 376 properties in Bexar County, investing $13.5M 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 March 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: San Antonio
San Antonio 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 6
SFHA Premium Discount
20% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). San Antonio's Class 6 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 20% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, October 2025. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
San Antonio, TX Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in San Antonio, TX?
The most common FEMA flood zones in San Antonio are Zone AE, Zone AO, 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 San Antonio?
If your San Antonio 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 over 40% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in San Antonio?
Enter your San Antonio 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 San Antonio offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. San Antonio participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 6 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 20% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 10% discount.
Has San Antonio experienced major flooding events?
Bexar County, where San Antonio is located, has been part of 15 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Tropical Storms Marco and Laura in 2020. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in San Antonio?
Bexar County has recorded 2,298 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $33.6M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 1998, with 412 claims and $11.5M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including San Antonio.
How many flood insurance policies are active in San Antonio?
Bexar County currently has 6,019 active NFIP flood insurance policies with an average annual premium of $910. The most policies are in Zone X (3,381 policies). These figures cover all active NFIP policies in the county.
How many San Antonio properties have flooded repeatedly?
Bexar County has 166 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 12 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.
Can my San Antonio 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 San Antonio?
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 San Antonio'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.
Other Texas Cities
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Look Up Any San Antonio, TX Address
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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 March 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a certified flood zone determination. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.