FEMA Paid $88B in Flood Claims — Every ZIP Code
Data source: ZipCheckup analysis of FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data
Every time a flood destroys a home in America and the owner has federal flood insurance, FEMA records the claim. The address. The amount. The flood zone. Over decades, these records build into a detailed financial map of where water does the most damage.
The total: $88.2 billion in payouts. 2,663,849 claims. 26,172 ZIP codes. And ZipCheckup has mapped every one of them.
The Geography of Loss
Flood damage in America is not evenly distributed. A handful of states — and a handful of ZIP codes within those states — absorb a wildly disproportionate share of federal flood payouts.
The top 10 ZIP codes by total payouts:
| ZIP Code | Location | Claims | Total Paid | Avg Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70124 | New Orleans, LA | 11,140 | $1.30 billion | $116,634 |
| 70043 | Chalmette, LA | 12,005 | $1.16 billion | $96,894 |
| 70122 | New Orleans, LA | 15,573 | $1.05 billion | $67,257 |
| 70126 | New Orleans, LA | 13,160 | $912 million | $69,301 |
| 33908 | Fort Myers, FL | 8,397 | $886 million | $105,467 |
| 70458 | Slidell, LA | 13,711 | $847 million | $61,750 |
| 70128 | New Orleans, LA | 7,021 | $709 million | $100,980 |
| 33931 | Fort Myers Beach, FL | 7,641 | $700 million | $91,645 |
| 77096 | Houston, TX | 6,479 | $689 million | $106,354 |
| 33957 | Sanibel, FL | 7,028 | $688 million | $97,940 |
Four of the top five are in Louisiana. Hurricane Katrina (2005) left a permanent mark on the data — but Louisiana's flood losses extend far beyond a single storm. ZIP codes like 70458 (Slidell) and 70043 (Chalmette) have accumulated claims over multiple decades of hurricanes, river flooding, and storm surge.
Repeat Flood ZIP Codes
The most telling number isn't total payouts — it's claim count. High claim counts reveal ZIP codes that flood repeatedly:
| ZIP Code | Total Claims | Recent Claims |
|---|---|---|
| 70072 | 17,534 | — |
| 70065 | 16,043 | — |
| 70122 | 15,573 | — |
| 70003 | 15,465 | — |
| 08008 | 14,170 | 10,224 |
| 70458 | 13,711 | — |
ZIP 08008 — Long Beach Island, New Jersey — stands out. It has 14,170 total claims, and 10,224 of those are recent, largely driven by Hurricane Sandy (2012) and subsequent nor'easters. When a barrier island floods, it floods completely.
The Recent Surge
Recent claims data shows that flood risk is shifting. The ZIP codes with the highest recent claim counts include:
- 08008 (Long Beach Island, NJ) — 10,224 recent claims, $383 million in recent payouts
- 33908 (Fort Myers, FL) — 8,061 recent claims, $885 million in recent payouts
- 11561 (Long Beach, NY) — 7,960 recent claims, $481 million
- 70068 (Gonzales, LA) — 7,106 recent claims, $625 million
Fort Myers (33908) is notable: its recent payouts of $885 million nearly equal its all-time total. Hurricane Ian (2022) essentially rewrote the area's entire flood history in a single event.
What the Flood Zones Tell You
Each ZIP code in our data includes its dominant FEMA flood zone:
- Zone A / AE — High-risk areas with a 1% annual chance of flooding (the "100-year floodplain"). 11,792 ZIPs.
- Zone X — Moderate-to-low risk. 6,727 ZIPs.
- Zone V / VE — High-risk coastal areas with storm surge. Concentrated along Gulf and Atlantic coasts.
But here's what the data reveals that zone maps don't: 6,727 ZIP codes classified as Zone X (low risk) still have flood claims. Flood damage doesn't respect the lines on FEMA's maps. The maps are models. The claims are reality.
The Financial Exposure
The average flood claim across all ZIP codes is modest — many claims are for minor basement flooding. But in the hardest-hit areas, average payouts exceed $100,000 per claim. ZIP 70124 in New Orleans averages $116,634 per claim. Fort Myers averages $105,467.
These numbers matter because they represent what flood insurance actually pays. Homeowners without flood insurance — and in many areas, the majority don't carry it — would bear these costs entirely out of pocket.
How to Check Your ZIP Code
Every ZIP code in our database includes FEMA flood data as part of its safety report. You can see:
- Total flood insurance claims filed in your ZIP
- Total and average payouts
- Your area's dominant flood zone classification
- Recent claim trends
- How your area compares to national flood loss averages
The government has decades of data on where floods hit and what they cost. The question is whether you've checked the record for your address.
Methodology: ZipCheckup analyzes FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data for 26,172 ZIP codes. Claim counts and payouts reflect cumulative NFIP history. Flood zone classifications follow FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) designations. "Recent claims" reflects the most recent reporting period available in the dataset. All dollar figures are nominal (not inflation-adjusted).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NFIP?
The National Flood Insurance Program is a federal program managed by FEMA that provides flood insurance to property owners, renters, and businesses. Since most homeowner insurance policies don't cover flood damage, NFIP is the primary source of flood coverage in the United States.
How many flood claims has FEMA processed?
Our dataset covers 2,663,849 flood insurance claims across 26,172 ZIP codes, with total payouts of $88.2 billion. These represent actual claims paid through the National Flood Insurance Program.
Which areas have the worst flood claim history?
Louisiana ZIP codes dominate the top of the list, led by 70072 (Marrero) with 17,534 claims. South Florida and coastal New Jersey also appear heavily. ZIP 70124 (New Orleans) has the highest total payouts at $1.3 billion.
Can I check flood claim history for my ZIP code?
Yes. Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your full safety report, including FEMA flood claim history, total payouts, average claim amounts, and flood zone classification.