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FludZone

Foggy Bottom, District of Columbia Flood Zones

Foggy Bottom is located on low-lying terrain near the Potomac River and is vulnerable to both riverine and tidal flooding. Several federal buildings and the Kennedy Center are within flood-prone areas.

FEMA Flood Risk Profile: District of Columbia 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 High

Est. annual loss: $130.1M

Coastal Flood Risk

Relatively Moderate

Est. annual loss: $1.5M

Hurricane Risk

Relatively High

Est. annual loss: $28.6M

Social Vulnerability: Relatively Moderate
Community Resilience: Very High

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.

Federal Flood Disaster History: District of Columbia (County-equivalent) County

District of Columbia (County-equivalent) County has been included in 6 federal flood-related disaster declarations.

2012Hurricane SandyHurricane
2011Hurricane IreneHurricane
2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane
2003Hurricane IsabelHurricane

...and 2 earlier declarations since 2003.

These declarations affected communities across District of Columbia (County-equivalent) County, including Foggy Bottom.

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.

NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: District of Columbia County

Properties in District of Columbia County have filed 492 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $5.5M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $11K.

Highest-Claim Years

2020

63 claims - $572K

2018

41 claims - $202K

2011

27 claims - $1.6M

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.

Common Flood Zones in Foggy Bottom

Properties in Foggy Bottom, DC are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:

What Your Flood Zone Means in Foggy Bottom

Foggy Bottom 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 Foggy Bottom are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $130.1M.

With both riverine and urban stormwater flood risk, insurance costs in Foggy Bottom 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 Foggy Bottom 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 Foggy Bottom address.

Check Your Foggy Bottom Address

Enter any Foggy Bottom, DC address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.

Free Flood Zone Lookup

Foggy Bottom, DC Flood Zone FAQ

What flood zones are in Foggy Bottom, DC?

The most common FEMA flood zones in Foggy Bottom 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 Foggy Bottom?

If your Foggy Bottom 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 Foggy Bottom?

Enter your Foggy Bottom 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 Foggy Bottom?

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, District of Columbia County (where Foggy Bottom is located) has a "Relatively High" rating for inland flood risk. The estimated annual flood loss for the county is $130.1M. This county-level assessment considers historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.

Has Foggy Bottom experienced major flooding events?

District of Columbia (County-equivalent) County, where Foggy Bottom is located, has been part of 6 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.

How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Foggy Bottom?

District of Columbia County has recorded 492 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $5.5M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2020, with 63 claims and $572K in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Foggy Bottom.

Sources

This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.

Sources last verified: February 2026