Learn more about First Street Foundation's modeled historic flood events.
First Street only modeled historic flood events that were big enough to receive federal disaster declarations so that we could validate these events with the HWMs (High Water Marks) and claims that come along with that declaration. Additionally, we did not model historic events if we could not reliably trust the river/tidal gauges measuring the water levels where these events occurred.
We have historic data for 55 inland and coastal events since 2000. The methods are detailed here. You can also read more about First Street Foundation's flood methodology here.
Please note, that First Street's Historic Flood data is only available through Risk Factor. For more information on what's included in each of the Risk Factor plans please review this article.
The following is the list of historic flood events that we have data for:
Historic Event Name |
Description |
Return Period |
Year |
|
River flood near Toledo, OH |
25 | 2015 | |
|
River flood across Eastern Iowa |
June 2008 fluvial event |
2733 | 2008 |
|
River flood near Shepherdstown, WV |
5 | 2018 | |
|
River flood near Minneapolis, MN |
April 2001 fluvial event |
41 | 2001 |
|
River flood near Winona, MN |
April 2001 fluvial event |
86 | 2001 |
|
River flood near Wisconsin Dells, WI |
June 2008 fluvial event |
4 | 2008 |
|
River flood near Camanche, IA |
April 2001 fluvial event |
107 | 2001 |
|
River flood near Ames, IA |
July 2008 fluvial event |
57 | 2008 |
|
River flood near Des Moines, IA |
June 2008 fluvial event |
44 | 2008 |
|
River flood near Peoria, IL |
April 2013 fluvial event |
88 | 2013 |
|
River flood near Eureka, MO |
December 2015 fluvial event |
98 | 2015 |
|
River flood near Newport, AR |
May 2011 fluvial event |
37 | 2011 |
|
River flood near Mesquite, NV |
January 2005 fluvial event |
154 | 2005 |
|
River flood near Ruidoso, NM |
July 2008 fluvial event |
105 | 2008 |
|
River flood near Fort Morgan, CO |
September 2013 fluvial event |
74 | 2013 |
|
River flood near Boulder, CO |
September 2013 fluvial event |
895 | 2013 |
|
River flood near Tulsa, OK |
July 2007 fluvial event |
656 | 2007 |
|
River flood near Sioux City, SD |
June 2014 fluvial event |
410 | 2014 |
|
River flood near Yankton, SD |
March 2019 fluvial event |
913 | 2019 |
|
River flood near Bismark, ND |
June 2011 fluvial event |
99 | 2011 |
|
River flood near Rocky Mount, NC |
October 2016 fluvial event |
35 | 2016 |
|
River Flood across Eastern Nebraska |
March 2019 fluvial event |
150 | 2019 |
|
River flood across Central Pennsylvania |
September 2011 fluvial event |
99 | 2011 |
|
River flood near Grand Rapids, MI |
15 | 2013 | |
|
River flood near Columbus, IN |
68 | 2008 | |
|
River flood near Lansing, MI |
5 | 2004 | |
|
River flood near Piketon, OH |
5 | 2005 | |
|
River flood near Stanton, KY |
24 | 2004 | |
|
River flood near Zanesville, OH |
25 | 2005 | |
|
River flood near Harrisburg, PA |
September 2004 fluvial event |
25 | 2004 |
|
River flood near Pittsburgh, PA |
September 2004 fluvial event |
12 | 2004 |
|
River flood near Beaumont, TX |
March 2016 fluvial event |
1175 | 2016 |
|
River flood near Dallas, TX |
May 2015 fluvial event |
43 | 2015 |
|
River flood near Albany, NY |
2011 | ||
|
River flood near Springfield, MA |
August 2011 fluvial event |
198 | 2011 |
|
Hurricane Gustav |
August 2008 Hurricane impacting the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi |
30 | 2008 |
|
Hurricane Isaac |
August 2012 Hurricane impacting the Gulf Coast of Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi |
60 | 2012 |
|
Hurricane Ike |
September 2008 Hurricane impacting the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas |
125 | 2008 |
|
Hurricane Katrina |
August 2005 Hurricane impacting the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi |
100 | 2005 |
|
Hurricane Charley |
August 2004 Hurricane impacting the West Coast of Florida |
75 | 2004 |
|
Hurricane Irma |
September 2017 Hurricane impacting Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina |
75 | 2017 |
|
Hurricane Wilma |
October 2005 Hurricane impacting South Florida |
125 | 2005 |
|
River flood near Towner, ND |
June 2011 fluvial event |
88 | 2011 |
|
Hurricane Sandy's storm surge |
October 2012 hurricane on the East Coast |
350 | 2012 |
|
Nor'easter storm surge |
February 2003 nor'easter in New York and southern New England |
100 | 2003 |
|
Nor'easter storm surge |
November 2009 nor'easter on the East Coast |
15 | 2009 |
|
Hurricane Isabel's storm surge |
September 2003 hurricane impacting the east coast |
450 | 2003 |
|
Nor'easter storm surge |
March 2010 nor'easter in New York and southern New England |
100 | 2010 |
|
Hurricane Matthew's storm surge |
September 2016 hurricane on the east coast of Florida |
125 | 2016 |
|
Hurricane Irene's storm surge |
August 2011 hurricane over the East Coast |
75 | 2011 |
|
Hurricane Hermine's storm surge |
August 2016 hurricane on the Gulf Coast of Florida |
75 | 2016 |
|
Hurricane Isidore's storm surge |
September 2002 hurricane on the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Mississippi |
40 | 2002 |
|
Tropical Storm Allison's storm surge |
June 2001 tropical storm on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas |
20 | 2001 |
|
Hurricane Michael's storm surge |
October 2018 hurricane on the west coast of Florida |
40 | 2018 |
|
Hurricane Jeanne's storm surge |
September 2004 hurricane on the east coast of Florida |
100 | 2004 |
