Flooding in San Diego WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Flooding might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of San Diego, but it's a growing concern, and it affects more neighborhoods than you might expect. Climate change is likely to result in greater year-to-year variability in rainfall and more extreme shifts between periods of drought and floods. There are already some spots in San Diego that flood when there are heavy rain events. As future rain events get stronger, the areas of impact by flooding are estimated to expand. Understanding when, where, and why floods happen, can help you make smarter decisions about protecting your property by purchasing private flood insurance in San Diego, CA.

Flood Zones in San Diego

San Diego County includes a mix of high-risk and moderate-to-low-risk flood zones, designated by FEMA. If your property is in a Zone AE or VE, you’re considered high-risk and may be required to carry flood insurance—especially if you have a federally backed mortgage. Areas in Zone X are lower risk but still file thousands of flood claims each year. In fact, data from FEMA indicates that 40% of flood insurance claims come from locations which are not rated as high risk.