Flooding in San Jose: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

San Jose, sometimes referred to as the "Capital of Silicon Valley," does not appear to be a flood city on the surface, but its past and landscape paint a different picture. San Jose has experienced severe flooding in the past, with the most significant being along Coyote Creek in 2017, when thousands of residents had to evacuate their homes. With a combination of urbanization, old drainage systems, and bordering creeks and rivers, flooding is a very real threat.

Studies show that thousands of properties in Santa Clara County are exposed to flood risk each year. And while California is better known for wildfires and drought, San Jose residents are aware that heavy winter rains, atmospheric rivers, and snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada can quickly overwhelm local waterways. Standard homeowners' insurance does not cover flood damage, making separate flood insurance in San Jose an essential safeguard.

Flood Zones in San Jose

San Jose has a number of FEMA-mapped flood zones, with some residential areas labeled as high-risk. Regions near Coyote Creek, Guadalupe River, and Los Gatos Creek are particularly susceptible. Zone AE and Zone AO properties are located within FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), wherein flood insurance is generally mandatory for federally insured mortgages.
Even neighborhoods mapped as Zone X (considered moderate or low risk) have experienced flooding during severe storms. Over 33% of properties in San Jose are at risk of flooding as of today. However, according to FEMA data, nearly 40% of flood insurance claims come from properties outside designated high-risk areas, which means that even being located in a moderate-to-low-risk area is not a guarantee of safety.