Directory Data & Resources

DC Flood & Water-Emergency Resource Directory (Agencies + Hotlines)

The master directory of official Washington, DC water and flood resources: every agency, 24-hour hotline, lookup tool, dataset, and assistance program — DOEE, the Department of Buildings, DLCP, DC Water, HSEMA, OUC/311 and FEMA — in one cited reference.

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

The single reference page to bookmark. Every official District and federal resource for water damage and flooding, grouped by what you need: an emergency number, a lookup tool, a permit, a dataset, or a program.

Emergency & reporting

Need	Contact	Channel
Threat to life	911	Phone
Water main break / sewer backup / no water	DC Water — (202) 612-3400	Report a problem
Street / storm-drain flooding	311	311 online
Emergency alerts before a storm	AlertDC	Sign up

Full detail on the water emergency contacts desk.

Lookup tools

Tool	Use	Source
DC Flood Risk Tool	Is my address at risk? (District)	dcfloodrisk.org
FEMA Flood Map Service Center	Regulatory flood zone (FIRM)	msc.fema.gov
Scout (DLCP)	Verify a contractor license	scout.dlcp.dc.gov
DC Water Open Data	Water main breaks & infrastructure	data.dcwater.com

See the flood-zone lookup guide and verify a contractor license.

Agencies

Agency	Responsibility	Site
DOEE	Floodplain management, flood-risk tool, RiverSmart	doee.dc.gov
Department of Buildings (DOB)	Construction, plumbing, gas, demolition permits	dob.dc.gov
DLCP	Contractor & business licensing; consumer protection	dlcp.dc.gov
DC Water	Water/sewer utility; emergencies; open data	dcwater.com
HSEMA	Emergency management; AlertDC; preparedness	hsema.dc.gov
OUC / 311	Non-emergency city services	311.dc.gov
FEMA / NFIP	Flood maps; flood insurance	floodsmart.gov

Assistance & programs

Program	What it offers	Source
RiverSmart Homes	Stormwater retrofits, rain barrels, fee discounts	DOEE RiverSmart
Basement-flooding / backwater-valve help	Backup-prevention assistance	Basement-flooding assistance
NFIP flood insurance	Federal flood coverage	floodsmart.gov

A fuller treatment of each program lives on the data & resources desk.

Frequently asked questions

What is the single most important number for a water emergency in DC?

For water and sewer emergencies, DC Water's 24-hour line at (202) 612-3400. For life-threatening situations, 911. For street and storm-drain flooding, 311.

Which DC agency handles flood maps and flood risk?

The Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) manages floodplain mapping and the DC Flood Risk Tool. FEMA publishes the regulatory Flood Insurance Rate Maps used for insurance and permits.

Sources & official references

Numbers and links reproduced from official directories; verify before relying on them. Verified June 2026. · Last verified: June 15, 2026