Areas With Most Flood Claims Have Higher Home Values Than U.S. Median

Since 1978, only 12 counties have been responsible for a third of flood insurance claims in the U.S.

Flood claims filed during that period are concentrated in areas traditionally affected by major storms, including Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, and Hurricane Ike, according to FEMA's data. Unlike policies per capita, the amount covered per person is heavily centered around the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, as more homes in those areas are valued above the coverage limits of NFIP, according to Zillow.

Unsurprisingly, the number of claims submitted by a county historically is closely aligned with the number of policies currently in effect. And much like historic claims, current policies are mostly in highly populated areas along the Gulf Coast and in the Carolinas — places including Miami, New Orleans and Houston.

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