Flood insurance in Puerto Rico

Flood insurance policies, average premiums, flood zones and claims history for Puerto Rico, county by county, from official FEMA records.

Policies as of 5 September 2026Source: FEMA OpenFEMA
Active flood policies
10,943
NFIP policies in force
Average yearly premium
$501
$769 below the US average
Claims paid since 1978
$161.1M
across 25,387 claims
Policies in high-risk zones
74%
zones A and V, where known

Flood claims paid per year

NFIP claims paid in Puerto Rico, 2000–2026

The three costliest years. The worst was 2017, with $28.0 million paid on 734 claims.

Insured buildings by flood zone

Zone V / VE2%
Coastal high-hazard areas with wave action. Flood insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone A / AE72%
High-risk areas with a 1% chance of flooding each year. Insurance is required with a federally backed mortgage.
Zone X, B, C26%
Moderate to low risk. Insurance is optional, and policies are usually much cheaper.

Zone not reported for 83% of policies; shares are of policies with a known zone.

Costliest flood events

Named events by NFIP claims paid in Puerto Rico

EventYearClaimsPaid
Hurricane Maria2017712$27.8 million
Hurricane Georges19984,763$26.2 million
Hurricane Hortense19961,733$20.5 million
Hurricane Isabel19851,880$5.7 million
Flooding1992513$5.5 million

Flood insurance by county

Counties in Puerto Rico with detailed pages, by number of policies. 40 smaller counties are included in the state totals.

CountyPoliciesAvg premiumClaims since 1978Paid
San Juan Municipio3,055$1,0150$0
Carolina Municipio1,932$3831,064$4.3 million
Guaynabo Municipio573$771245$2.8 million
Ponce Municipio525$330608$3.1 million
Toa Baja Municipio351$4932,041$17.9 million
Humacao Municipio341$3381,058$4.0 million
Bayamón Municipio217$399522$3.5 million
Arecibo Municipio155$429994$11.5 million

Common questions

How much does flood insurance cost in Puerto Rico?

The average NFIP flood insurance policy in Puerto Rico costs about $501 a year. Your own premium depends on your building's flood risk, elevation and the coverage you choose.

How many homes have flood insurance in Puerto Rico?

There are about 10,943 National Flood Insurance Program policies in force in Puerto Rico, according to FEMA's latest policy data. Private flood policies are not included.

How often does Puerto Rico flood?

Since 1978, NFIP policyholders in Puerto Rico have filed 25,387 flood claims, with $161.1 million paid out. 1,072 of those claims were in the last 10 years.

Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?

No. Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies exclude flood damage. You need a separate flood policy from the NFIP or a private insurer.

How long until a new flood policy starts?

NFIP policies usually have a 30-day waiting period, so buying when a storm is already forecast is normally too late. Exceptions apply, for example when a lender requires the policy at closing.

How to get flood insurance

Most flood policies are sold through the National Flood Insurance Program by regular insurance agents. Ask the agent who handles your home or car insurance, or find one through FloodSmart.gov, FEMA's official flood insurance site. Private flood insurers also sell policies in many areas and are worth comparing.