FEMA National Risk Index hazard
Prepare your home for coastal flooding
Flooding of coastal land from storm surge, high tides and waves.
89 US counties are rated Relatively High or Very High for coastal flooding by FEMA’s National Risk Index. The three things that matter most at home: 1. Check your FEMA flood zone at your address; V and coastal A zones carry wave risk. 2. Know your evacuation route and zone before a storm is named. 3. Keep a flood-insurance policy in force; there is usually a 30-day wait.
Before the season
- Check the flood zone and base flood elevation for your address on the FEMA map.
- Store important papers in a waterproof container above the expected water level.
- Install backflow valves on sewer lines if your area has had sewage backups.
When a warning comes
- Evacuate when told to; storm surge is the leading cause of hurricane deaths.
- Unplug appliances and move what you can upstairs.
- Close the main water valve if you are leaving.
After
- Return only when officials say it is safe.
- Assume flood water is contaminated; wear gloves and boots.
- Photograph damage and water lines before cleanup.
Ask your insurer
Ask whether your policy covers storm surge. Surge is flood, which standard homeowners policies generally exclude. We explain and organize; we never predict coverage.
Ready.gov: Floods Checklist: original casaq guidance
Counties with the highest coastal flooding scores
Top 25 by FEMA NRI risk score for this hazard. Scores and ratings are relative to other US counties, not probabilities of a loss.
| # | County | Rating | Score | Recorded events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bergen County, NJ | Very High | 100.0 | — |
| 2 | Charleston County, SC | Very High | 99.8 | — |
| 3 | Miami-Dade County, FL | Very High | 99.6 | — |
| 4 | Pinellas County, FL | Very High | 99.2 | — |
| 5 | Grays Harbor County, WA | Very High | 99.0 | — |
| 6 | Monroe County, FL | Very High | 98.8 | — |
| 7 | Suffolk County, NY | Very High | 98.6 | — |
| 8 | Nassau County, NY | Very High | 98.4 | — |
| 9 | Ocean County, NJ | Very High | 98.2 | — |
| 10 | Manatee County, FL | Very High | 98.0 | — |
| 11 | Essex County, MA | Very High | 97.8 | — |
| 12 | Lee County, FL | Very High | 97.4 | — |
| 13 | Marin County, CA | Very High | 97.2 | — |
| 14 | Broward County, FL | Very High | 97.0 | — |
| 15 | Accomack County, VA | Very High | 96.8 | — |
| 16 | Queens County, NY | Very High | 96.6 | — |
| 17 | Clatsop County, OR | Very High | 96.4 | — |
| 18 | Atlantic County, NJ | Very High | 96.2 | — |
| 19 | Chatham County, GA | Very High | 96.0 | — |
| 20 | Salem County, NJ | Very High | 95.8 | — |
| 21 | Jefferson Parish, LA | Very High | 95.6 | — |
| 22 | St. Charles Parish, LA | Very High | 95.4 | — |
| 23 | Collier County, FL | Very High | 95.2 | — |
| 24 | Hudson County, NJ | Very High | 95.0 | — |
| 25 | Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT | Very High | 94.8 | — |