District of Columbia Flood Zones
Washington, DC faces flood risk from the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, tidal flooding along the waterfront, and urban flash flooding from intense rainfall overwhelming the combined sewer system. Critical federal infrastructure is located in flood-prone areas near the National Mall.
1 of 1 District of Columbia counties are rated high or very high for inland flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index.
FEMA Region
Region 3
Also covers Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, +2 more
NFIP Policies
2,800
District of Columbia Flood Risk Overview
County-level risk ratings from FEMA's National Risk Index across 1 District of Columbia counties.
Inland Flood Risk
1 of 1 counties rated high or very high
Coastal Flood Risk
0 of 1 coastal counties rated high or very high
Hurricane Risk
1 of 1 counties rated high or very high
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment.
Federal Flood Disaster History
District of Columbia has received 6 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, and coastal storms.
2010s
4
2000s
2
Recent Declarations
Showing 4 most recent of 6 total declarations.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
District of Columbia properties have filed 492 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $5.5M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $11K.
Claims by Decade
2020s
116
2010s
227
2000s
73
1990s
26
1980s
30
1970s
20
Highest-Claim Years
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone X
390
Zone AE
44
Zone A
19
Zone V
7
Zone D
1
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Look Up Any District of Columbia Address
Enter a DC address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Free Flood Zone LookupDistrict of Columbia Cities
Explore flood zone information for major cities in District of Columbia.
District of Columbia Flood Zone FAQ
How do I check if my District of Columbia property is in a flood zone?
Enter your DC address in FludZone's free lookup tool. We query FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer in real-time to show your flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, and your property's risk level.
Do I need flood insurance in District of Columbia?
If your District of Columbia property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), meaning zones starting with A or V, 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 subject to the federal mandate but lenders may still require coverage, and it is often recommended given District of Columbia's flood history.
What are the most common flood zones in District of Columbia?
The most common FEMA flood zone designations in District of Columbia are Zone AE, Zone AO, Zone X. Each zone reflects a different level of flood risk, from high-risk areas where flood insurance is generally required for federally regulated or government-backed mortgages to lower-risk areas where coverage is optional but recommended.
Can I remove my District of Columbia property from a flood zone?
Yes, if your District of Columbia property's natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in the SFHA, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) through FEMA. For properties in District of Columbia's AE and A zones, the LOMA process is relatively straightforward when the elevation data supports it. If your property was raised above the BFE with fill, the process is a LOMR-F. A successful LOMA generally removes the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement, but your lender may still choose to require coverage. You'll need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor.
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
Understanding Flood Zones
Learn more about the FEMA flood zone designations common in District of Columbia.