Charleston, West Virginia Flood Zones
Charleston sits at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers and faces significant riverine flood risk. The narrow valley setting concentrates floodwaters and leaves limited room for flood management.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Kanawha 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: $132.7M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively LowEst. annual loss: $294K
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Kanawha County
Kanawha County has been included in 13 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 5 earlier declarations since 1967.
These declarations affected communities across Kanawha County, including Charleston.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Kanawha County
Properties in Kanawha County have filed 2,445 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $42.8M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $18K.
Highest-Claim Years
2003
483 claims - $5.0M
2016
336 claims - $18.7M
1997
203 claims - $2.4M
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
942
Zone AE
740
Zone X
474
Zone V
1
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Charleston
Properties in Charleston, WV are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Charleston
Charleston faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Charleston are Zone AE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $132.7M.
Riverine flood risk in Charleston is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. 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.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Charleston address.
Flood Insurance Discount: Charleston
Charleston 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 9
SFHA Premium Discount
5% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Charleston's Class 9 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 5% 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 Charleston Address
Enter any Charleston, WV address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupCharleston, WV Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Charleston, WV?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Charleston 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 Charleston?
If your Charleston 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 Charleston?
Enter your Charleston 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 Charleston offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Charleston participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 9 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 5% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Has Charleston experienced major flooding events?
Kanawha County, where Charleston is located, has been part of 13 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in 2024. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Charleston?
Kanawha County has recorded 2,445 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $42.8M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2003, with 483 claims and $5.0M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Charleston.
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