Flooding is the most expensive and widespread natural disaster in the United States, and some states have been hit harder than others. From century-old river floods to modern hurricanes and flash floods, the damage has reshaped communities, economies, and landscapes. This list highlights the 15 states with the worst flood history, showing why they rank so high, who bears the brunt of the impact, and what’s being done to reduce future risks.
🌊 Louisiana
From the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 to Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana’s flood history is among the worst.
- Key stat: Katrina (2005) caused $160B+ in damage, the costliest U.S. disaster.
- Why it ranks high: Low elevation, subsidence, hurricanes, levee reliance.
- Who feels it most: New Orleans and Gulf Coast communities.
- Mitigation watch: Coastal restoration, surge barriers, elevated housing.
🌧️ Texas
Home to Harvey’s record-breaking rainfall and multiple major floods in Houston and beyond.
- Key stat: Harvey (2017) dumped over 60 inches of rain.
- Why it ranks high: Tropical storms + sprawling urbanization.
- Who feels it most: Houston metro + Gulf Coast counties.
- Mitigation watch: Reservoir expansions, buyouts, bayou channeling.
🌊 Mississippi
Ground zero for the catastrophic 1927 Mississippi River Flood.
- Key stat: 27,000 sq. miles inundated in 1927.
- Why it ranks high: Mississippi River basin flooding + hurricanes.
- Who feels it most: Delta communities + Gulf Coast.
- Mitigation watch: Army Corps levees, modern warning systems.
🌧️ Missouri
Sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, flood-prone for centuries.
- Key stat: The Great Flood of 1993 devastated multiple states.
- Why it ranks high: Riverine flooding + heavy spring rains.
- Who feels it most: St. Louis region and river towns.
- Mitigation watch: Levee improvements, buyouts.
🌊 Florida
Hurricanes, king tides, and inland rains give Florida one of the highest repetitive-loss tallies.
- Key stat: Hurricane Ian (2022) caused ~$113B in damage.
- Why it ranks high: Coastal surge + low-lying geography.
- Who feels it most: Gulf Coast + South Florida.
- Mitigation watch: Elevation codes, surge barriers, pumps.
🌧️ Illinois
Chronic flooding along the Mississippi River and urban flooding in Chicago suburbs.
- Key stat: The 1993 Midwest Flood caused billions in damages across Illinois.
- Why it ranks high: Heavy rain + river confluences + urban drainage issues.
- Who feels it most: Mississippi River counties and Chicago metro.
- Mitigation watch: Stormwater tunnels, levee upgrades, green infrastructure.
🌊 Iowa
A hotspot for Midwest flooding, with repeated disasters along its rivers.
- Key stat: Cedar Rapids was inundated in 2008 by a “500-year” flood.
- Why it ranks high: Upper Mississippi basin floods + spring snowmelt.
- Who feels it most: Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, riverfront towns.
- Mitigation watch: Levee projects, buyouts, floodplain management.
🌧️ Pennsylvania
From Hurricane Agnes in 1972 to flash floods, the state has a deep flood history.
- Key stat: Agnes caused $2.1B in PA damages, still infamous statewide.
- Why it ranks high: Appalachian terrain + river valleys + hurricanes.
- Who feels it most: Susquehanna River basin and small mountain towns.
- Mitigation watch: Flood walls, buyouts, FEMA risk mapping.
🌊 Kentucky
Mountain floods and river basin disasters have repeatedly devastated communities.
- Key stat: July 2022 floods killed 45 people in Eastern Kentucky.
- Why it ranks high: Steep terrain + heavy rainfall + poor drainage.
- Who feels it most: Appalachian towns and river valleys.
- Mitigation watch: Resilience funding, early-warning systems.
🌧️ California
Beyond wildfires, California faces destructive floods from “atmospheric rivers.”
- Key stat: The Great Flood of 1862 turned Sacramento Valley into an inland sea.
- Why it ranks high: Atmospheric rivers + snowmelt + urbanization.
- Who feels it most: Central Valley + coastal cities.
- Mitigation watch: Levee reinforcement, dam operations, flood bypasses.
🌊 New Jersey
One of the hardest-hit states by Hurricane Sandy, plus repeated Nor’easter flooding.
- Key stat: Sandy (2012) caused $30B+ in NJ damages.
- Why it ranks high: Coastal surge + dense development.
- Who feels it most: Jersey Shore + Hudson River waterfront.
- Mitigation watch: Surge barriers, dune systems, buyouts.
🌧️ Arkansas
Flood-prone along the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers, with frequent flash floods.
- Key stat: 2019 Arkansas River flood reached record levels.
- Why it ranks high: River flooding + heavy rain events.
- Who feels it most: River valley towns + rural counties.
- Mitigation watch: Reservoir management, levees, relocation programs.
🌊 Nebraska
The 2019 “bomb cyclone” flood crippled farms, dams, and levees statewide.
- Key stat: 2019 disaster caused $1.3B in farm losses.
- Why it ranks high: Ice jams + dam failures + heavy rains.
- Who feels it most: Farm belt + river towns.
- Mitigation watch: Dam safety, levee modernization, crop insurance.
🌧️ North Carolina
Repeated flooding from hurricanes Floyd, Florence, and Matthew has devastated the state.
- Key stat: Floyd (1999) caused 50 fatalities and $6B in damage.
- Why it ranks high: Coastal surge + inland river flooding.
- Who feels it most: Coastal plain and river basins.
- Mitigation watch: Floodplain buyouts, wetland restoration.
🌊 West Virginia
Mountainous terrain makes flash flooding sudden and deadly.
- Key stat: The 2016 floods killed 23 and destroyed thousands of homes.
- Why it ranks high: Steep valleys + intense rainfall events.
- Who feels it most: Appalachian hollows and small towns.
- Mitigation watch: Early-warning systems, disaster aid, relocation.
