Flood Events Rose Nearly 29% Across US in 2023

As hurricanes grow fiercer and floods become more frequent, these extreme weather events are no longer as rare. In fact, flood events — from flash foods to storm surges and more — increased by 28.8% across the U.S. between 2022 and 2023, according to the latest LendingTree study.

Homeowners may feel like they’re on the front lines of these climate change-related effects. In addition to reviewing our findings, stick around for tips on utilizing home insurance to help weather storms.

Key findings

• Between 2022 and 2023, flood events increased by 28.8% across the U.S. The U.S. experienced 6,509 flood events in 2023, compared with 5,052 in 2022. Six states saw flooding events quadruple or more during this time: Vermont, Connecticut, North Dakota, Maine, Georgia and Massachusetts. Conversely, 19 states experienced a decrease in flood events.
• California experienced the most flood events in 2023. At 1,024, California was the only state above 1,000 flood events. Far behind, New York had 413 and Texas had 296. Meanwhile, the District of Columbia had five flood events — the lowest by state. Oregon (11) was next lowest, followed by Washington and Delaware (both at 23).
• Flood-involved billion-dollar disasters caused an estimated $70.3 billion in damage over the past decade. Between 2014 and 2023, the year with the highest flood-involved billion-dollar damage was 2019, at $24.4 billion. That’s followed by 2016 ($20.9 billion) and 2023 ($9.3 billion).
• Hurricane events stayed fairly level over the past decade. There were 840 hurricane events from 2011 to 2013, only marginally increasing to 852 from 2021 to 2023. From 2021 to 2023, Florida saw the most hurricane events at 307 — nearly triple the next highest state, Georgia (109). Florida and Georgia were the only states with more than 100 hurricane events over the period analyzed.
• From 2014 to 2023, billion-dollar disasters involving hurricanes caused an estimated $684.6 billion in damage. Nearly half of the damage occurred in 2017 alone, at $333.9 billion. Meanwhile, 2014 and 2015 had no damage from billion-dollar hurricane disasters. Following that, 2023 had $7.9 billion in damage.

Flood events rose 28.8% between 2022 and 2023

Flood events are on the rise. In fact, these flood events — flash floods, storm surges, floods, lakeshore floods and coastal floods — increased 28.8% from 5,052 in 2022 to 6,509 in 2023.

The increase is concerning for many reasons, but it paints a grim picture of potential damage for homeowners. That said, LendingTree home insurance expert and licensed insurance agent Rob Bhatt says there are ways to minimize this risk.

Some steps include adjustments like raising mechanical systems, installing flood-resistant drywall and insulation, or raising your home. For some homeowners, flood insurance may be worth considering before your home is affected by a potential flood — provided you aren’t already required to have it in your area.

States with the biggest increases in flood events between 2022 and 2023

Source: LendingTree analysis of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Events Database. Note: Flood events include flash floods, storm surges, floods, lakeshore floods and coastal floods.

Vermont ranked first, with flood events jumping a whopping 1,460.0% from five in 2022 to 78 in 2023. The state experienced record-setting and catastrophic flooding in July 2023. In fact, recorded rainfall at the Montpelier airport surpassed the previous record set during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

It’s followed by Connecticut with an 808.3% increase, jumping from 12 floods in 2022 to 109 in 2023. Connecticut also experienced heavy rainfall in July 2023, which flooded the prominent Connecticut River and affected Glastonbury and East Hartford.

North Dakota rounded out the top three, with flood events jumping 422.2% from nine in 2022 to 47 in 2023. Notably, North Dakota had a record-setting snowfall in the winter and delayed snowmelt, which significantly increased flood risk in 2023.

Conversely, 19 states experienced a decrease in flood events. At the bottom of the list, the District of Columbia saw flood events decline 77.3% from 22 in 2022 to five in 2023. It’s followed by Mississippi (70.4% decline) and Arizona (66.0%).

Full rankings

States with the biggest increases/decreases in flood events between 2022 and 2023

Source: LendingTree analysis of the NOAA Storm Events Database. Note: Flood events include flash floods, storm surges, floods, lakeshore floods and coastal floods.

California had over 1,000 flood events in 2023

By state, California experienced the most flood events in 2023 at 1,024 — the only state above 1,000.

In the early months of the year, California had a particularly wet season. Later, in August, Hurricane Hilary brought severe rainfall, leading to Southern California’s first-ever tropical storm watch (though the system didn’t make landfall there).

Following California, New York had 413 flooding events and Texas had 296, ranking second and third, respectively. Notably, both states are among the 10 most at risk for coastal flooding, according to another LendingTree study.

States with the most flood events in 2023

Source: LendingTree analysis of the NOAA Storm Events Database. Note: Flood events include flash floods, storm surges, floods, lakeshore floods and coastal floods.

While flood events may not have directly led to increases in insurance premiums in these states, Bhatt says flood insurance has had major changes in the past few years.

“First, there’s a new rate system for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood insurance,” he says. “The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages NFIP and introduced its new rate system in 2021. The new system is designed to make flood insurance cheaper for people with a lower level of flood risk and more expensive for those in high-risk areas. Unfortunately, some people in high-risk areas have seen their rates skyrocket, creating a bit of a backlash.”

On the other hand, the District of Columbia had the fewest flood events by state, at just five. Oregon (11) followed, with Washington and Delaware tied in third at 23 each.

Full rankings

States with the most/least flood events in 2023

Source: LendingTree analysis of the NOAA Storm Events Database. Note: Flood events include flash floods, storm surges, floods, lakeshore floods and coastal floods.

Flood-involved billion-dollar disasters caused tens of billions in damage

While the number of flood events is one thing, damage is another. Between 2014 and 2023, flood-involved billion-dollar disasters caused an estimated $70.3 billion in damage. Across the decade analyzed, 2019 saw the most damage, at $24.4 billion.

Of the billion-dollar flood events during 2019, the Missouri River and North Central flood event caused the most damage, at $13.3 billion. This spring flood occurred toward the end of the wettest 12-month period in the U.S. and is the most damaging inland flood event on record.

That’s followed by the Mississippi River, Midwest and Southern flood event in June, which incurred $7.6 billion in damage. This flood event involved heavy rain during the spring and summer seasons.

Total estimated damage from billion-dollar disasters involving flooding by year

Source: LendingTree analysis of NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) data. Note: The individual years don’t add to the total because of rounding.

That’s followed by 2016, with $20.9 billion in flood-related damage. Of note, a flood event in Louisiana in August caused $13.2 billion in damage — significantly more than any other flood event that year. This came after a 500-year rain event near Baton Rouge, with rainfall of several feet (yes, feet) occurring over a few days.

Finally, 2023 saw $9.3 billion in damage — third by year analyzed.

Only two years in this period — 2018 and 2020 — didn’t see any flood-related billion-dollar disasters.

Hurricane events stayed consistent

While flood events have increased, hurricane events (hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions) have stayed fairly level over the past decade — even if they’re growing stronger. Between 2011 and 2013, there were 840 hurricane events — a slight difference from 852 between 2021 and 2023.

Hurricane events by state, 2011 to 2013 and 2021 to 2023

Source: LendingTree analysis of the NOAA Storm Events Database. Notes: Hurricane events include hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions. Only states with at least one hurricane event in the time frames analyzed were included.

By state, Florida saw the most hurricane events from 2021 to 2023 at 307. That’s nearly triple the next highest state, Georgia (109). According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Florida is particularly exposed to hurricanes due to the Atlantic Ocean’s warm waters.

Still, Florida and Georgia were the only states with more than 100 hurricane events over the period analyzed. In third, North Carolina experienced 82 hurricanes between 2021 and 2023.

What should homeowners in these states keep in mind? Extreme wind and storm surges are the leading causes of damage from hurricanes, Bhatt says.

In areas with the greatest hurricane risks, Bhatt says you may have to buy homeowners, windstorm and flood insurance. “Obviously, this can get expensive, especially since home insurance rates have been rising so quickly in recent years,” he says. “This is creating real financial hardships for people in ways we haven’t seen before.”

Hurricane-involved billion-dollar disasters caused significant damage

Although hurricane events may not be increasing like flood events, hurricane-involved billion-dollar disasters caused significantly more damage than flood-involved disasters. Over the decade analyzed, these billion-dollar disasters caused an estimated $684.6 billion in hurricane damage.

Notably, 2017 saw nearly half the damage, at $333.9 billion. According to NOAA, that year’s hurricane season had 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and six major hurricanes — the ninth most on record for named storms, eighth for hurricanes and third for major hurricanes. Additionally, four hurricanes made landfall, the most since 2005.

Total estimated damage from billion-dollar disasters involving hurricanes by year

Source: LendingTree analysis of NOAA NCEI data. Note: Hurricane events include hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions.

On the other hand, 2014 and 2015 had no damage from billion-dollar hurricane disasters, while 2023 had $7.9 billion in damage.

Preparing for storm season: Top expert tips

As spring storms begin to pick up and summer’s hurricane season approaches, it’s vital for homeowners to prepare accordingly. Bhatt recommends the following:

• If you’re thinking of getting flood insurance, it’s important to shop early. “If you already own your home, there’s a 30-day waiting period before a government flood insurance policy kicks in,” he says. “The waiting period for private flood insurance is usually shorter, but no one will sell you flood insurance when a storm is imminent.”
• Spring is also a good time to think about renovations that can prevent or reduce potential storm damage to your home. “These projects are not cheap, but they can help increase the value of your home,” he says. “Better yet, they can save money if a disaster strikes.”
• Some renovations, such as installing wind-resistant windows and impact-resistant roofing, may also get you an insurance discount. If there are steps you can take to minimize flood damage to your home, such as elevating your mechanical systems or floodproofing your basement, now is a great time to complete these projects.

Methodology

LendingTree researchers analyzed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data to calculate the amount of property damage caused by flooding-involved and hurricane-involved billion-dollar weather events, as well as the change in flood and hurricane events (regardless of damage amounts).

We analyzed NOAA Storm Events Database data to calculate the overall change in flood events from 2022 to 2023. As for hurricane events, we analyzed data from 2011 to 2013, as well as from 2021 to 2023. Only states with at least one hurricane event in either period were included.

Flooding and hurricane events were defined using these conditions:

• Flood events: Flash floods, storm surges, floods, lakeshore floods and coastal floods.
• Hurricane events: Hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions.

We also analyzed billion-dollar disaster data from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). We analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia from 2014 to 2023.