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DC Flooding by the Numbers: Statistics, History & Risk Data

A data desk for flooding in Washington, DC: how often the District floods, the open datasets that track water main breaks and risk, the major historic floods, the official assistance and stormwater programs, and the master directory of agencies and hotlines.

DC Water Damage Resource — Editorial Desk Published June 15, 2026 Updated June 15, 2026

This is the District’s flood-data desk: the numbers, datasets, history, and official programs — and the master directory of who does what. Each figure on the deeper pages is tied to its open-data source so it can be verified and cited.

The datasets

Dataset	What it covers	Source
Water main breaks	Location and frequency of breaks across the District	DC Water Open Data
River gauges	Real-time Potomac and Anacostia water levels	USGS
Flood maps (FIRM)	Regulatory flood zones	FEMA MSC
NFIP claims & policies	Flood-insurance claim counts and payouts	FEMA / FloodSmart

The water-main-breaks dashboard is explained on the water main breaks map page.

History and statistics

The District’s flood record runs from the catastrophic 1936 Potomac flood through the 2006 Federal Triangle flood and the recurring Bloomingdale flash floods of 2012. The full timeline is on history of major DC floods, and the statistical picture — frequency, depth, and trend — is summarized across this desk.

Official programs

The District funds several programs that reduce flood risk and help residents recover:

RiverSmart Homes — stormwater retrofits, rain barrels, and fee discounts. See RiverSmart & stormwater programs.
Basement-flooding and backwater-valve assistance — see basement-flooding assistance.
Flood insurance / NFIP — coverage logistics on flood insurance in DC.
The DC Flood Task Force — the District’s coordinating body for flood resilience. See the DC Flood Task Force.

The master directory

Every agency, hotline, dataset, and program in one place is on the DC flood & water-emergency resource directory — the single reference page to bookmark.

Frequently asked questions

How often does Washington, DC flood?

There is no single number — it depends on the type of flooding. Riverine flooding on the Potomac and Anacostia is episodic, tied to major storms and snowmelt. Interior and stormwater flooding in low-lying neighborhoods can happen several times a year during intense summer rains. Tidal nuisance flooding along the rivers has been increasing in frequency. See this site's flood-history and statistics pages for the figures and their sources.

Where can I find open data on DC water main breaks?

DC Water publishes infrastructure data, including water main breaks, through its geospatial open-data portal. This site's water main breaks map page explains how to read it and track breaks near an address.

What assistance programs does DC offer for flooding?

The District runs several: DOEE's RiverSmart Homes program (stormwater retrofits and fee discounts) and basement-flooding and backwater-valve assistance. They are documented on the RiverSmart & stormwater programs and basement-flooding assistance pages.

Sources & official references

01DC Water Open Data Portal — Water main breaks and infrastructure datasets.
02DOEE — Floodplain Management — District flood-risk data and programs.
03USGS — National Water Dashboard — Real-time river gauge data for the Potomac and Anacostia.
04FEMA — National Flood Insurance Program — Flood claim and policy statistics.

Verified against DC Water Open Data, DOEE, USGS and FEMA as of June 2026. · Last verified: June 15, 2026