Does Kent/Palisades flood?
Kent/Palisades, Washington, DC · ZIP codes 20016 and 20007: the ZIP codes on most of the flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Kent/Palisades have filed flood claims. About 16% of Kent/Palisades’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 33 claims from the Census block groups that cover Kent/Palisades, from 1984 through 2022. 17 of them received a payment, totaling $309,530 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2017 (3 claims), 2003 (3 claims), 2010 (3 claims).
Past claims do not predict future flooding, and a neighborhood figure cannot tell you about one building. Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and get flood insurance quotes before you sign a lease or a contract.
Check a specific address in Kent/Palisades
Neighborhood figures are averages. Our address check looks up the FEMA flood zone at one address, from the same public maps: check if your address is in a flood zone.
Flood zones street by street in Kent/Palisades
The named streets in Kent/Palisades, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Kent/Palisades lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Kent/Palisades; the main zone is the FEMA zone covering most of that length. A street can cross several zones, so the zone at one address can differ from the street’s main zone: check the address above for that. 84 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macarthur Blvd NW | 3.0 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Canal Rd NW | 2.7 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Foxhall Rd NW | 2.3 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Massachusetts Ave NW | 1.5 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| 49th St NW | 1.5 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| 44th St NW | 1.4 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Chain Bridge Rd NW | 1.4 mi | 18% | X (unshaded, minimal) (82%) |
| Reservoir Rd NW | 1.3 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Sherier Pl NW | 1.3 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Potomac Ave NW | 1.2 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (99%) |
| Cathedral Ave NW | 1.2 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Loughboro Rd NW | 1.1 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Rockwood Pkwy NW | 5,190 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Dalecarlia Pkwy NW | 4,890 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| 45th St NW | 4,730 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Macomb St NW | 4,550 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Arizona Ave NW | 4,510 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Klingle St NW | 4,240 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Tilden St NW | 4,230 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Garfield St NW | 4,220 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| New Mexico Ave NW | 3,980 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| W St NW | 3,860 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| 48th St NW | 3,790 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Fordham Rd NW | 3,720 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Lowell St NW | 3,530 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
Streets: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads). Flood zones: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, retrieved November 7, 2026. Each street is clipped to the neighborhood boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in Kent/Palisades
Share of Kent/Palisades’s mapped area (about 10.574 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (1100010003C, 1100010004C, 1100010011C, 1100010012C, 1100010013C, 1100010014C, 24031C0455D, 24031C0465D, 51013C0036D, 51013C0038D, 51013C0039D, 51059C0180E, 51059C0190E): September 29, 2006, September 17, 2010, September 27, 2010, November 16, 2023.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 83% |
| AE | 16% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 0.4% |
| A | 0.3% |
What the zones mean
- Zone AE (and A, AH, AO)
- High-risk: part of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), the area FEMA maps as having a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year (the “100-year” or base flood). AE areas have a mapped base flood elevation.
- Zone VE (and V)
- High-risk coastal areas, also in the SFHA, where the base flood is expected to bring additional hazards from storm waves.
- Zone X (shaded)
- Moderate hazard: between the limits of the 1-percent and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (“500-year”) flood.
- Zone X (unshaded)
- Minimal hazard: outside the SFHA and higher than the 0.2-percent-annual-chance flood elevation. Minimal is not zero: flood claims are filed from X zones too.
Source: FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
Flood insurance claims over time
Claims filed under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from the 2010 Census block groups that cover Kent/Palisades. About 100% of the combined area of those block groups lies inside Kent/Palisades. Only insured properties appear, so these counts understate total flooding.
By decade
| Decade | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1 | $0 |
| 2000s | 11 | $13,318 |
| 2010s | 16 | $287,716 |
| 2020s | 5 | $8,496 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 32
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 1
How much is flood insurance in Kent/Palisades?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in Kent/Palisades costs $341 a year: the median of 36 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $323 and $358. That is the full amount paid for the year, the premium plus FEMA’s fees and surcharges, and every one of these policies is priced under Risk Rating 2.0. A quote for one building can be far from this: its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price. Private flood insurance is not included.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3, computed November 7, 2026.
Why home insurance costs what it does in Kent/Palisades
This section is educational and is not insurance advice.
Flood insurance
ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. These are the ZIP codes on at least 5% of the flood claims counted for Kent/Palisades, within 10 km of it.
- ZIP code 20016: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $360 a year, the middle of 109 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $334 and $441. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0.
- ZIP code 20016: NFIP records list 42 flood claims with a loss year from 1984 through 2024. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026.
- ZIP code 20007: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $378 a year, the middle of 82 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $346 and $547. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0.
- ZIP code 20007: NFIP records list 72 flood claims with a loss year from 1978 through 2023. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026.
What to ask your agent
- Ask the agent how old the roof is.
- Ask whether a wind-mitigation discount is available for this house.
- Ask how flood coverage differs from the homeowners policy. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. Flood coverage is a separate policy.
- Ask whether the policy has a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, and how that deductible is calculated.
- Ask when coverage would start. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Flood coverage and the 30-day wait: FEMA fact sheet, Jan. 21, 2025; 44 CFR 61.11.
What do NFIP records show for flood insurance in Kent/Palisades?
ZIP code 20016: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $360 a year, the middle of 109 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $334 and $441. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0. ZIP code 20016: NFIP records list 42 flood claims with a loss year from 1984 through 2024. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026. ZIP code 20007: the median National Flood Insurance Program policy cost for single-family homes was $378 a year, the middle of 82 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $346 and $547. These policies are priced under Risk Rating 2.0. ZIP code 20007: NFIP records list 72 flood claims with a loss year from 1978 through 2023. The claims dataset is as of September 8, 2026.
What should I ask an insurance agent about a home in Kent/Palisades?
Ask the agent how old the roof is. Ask whether a wind-mitigation discount is available for this house. Ask how flood coverage differs from the homeowners policy. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. Flood coverage is a separate policy. Ask whether the policy has a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible, and how that deductible is calculated. Ask when coverage would start. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase.
Sources: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3; OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3.
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Before you rent or buy in Kent/Palisades
- Look up the exact address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center; a neighborhood can mix high-risk and minimal-hazard zones.
- Ask the landlord or seller about past flooding and flood insurance claims at the property.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: new NFIP policies usually take 30 days to start (FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy).
- Ask which floor the unit is on and where parking, storage and mechanical equipment sit.
Living in Kent/Palisades
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Kent/Palisades with other Washington neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Washington on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Kent/Palisades flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Kent/Palisades have filed flood claims. About 16% of Kent/Palisades’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. NFIP flood insurance records list 33 claims from the Census block groups that cover Kent/Palisades, from 1984 through 2022. 17 of them received a payment, totaling $309,530 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2017 (3 claims), 2003 (3 claims), 2010 (3 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Kent/Palisades in a flood zone?
About 16% of Kent/Palisades’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area; the rest is in moderate or minimal-hazard Zone X. Shares by zone: X (unshaded, minimal) 83%; AE 16%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 0.4%; A 0.3%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect September 29, 2006, September 17, 2010, September 27, 2010, November 16, 2023.
Which streets in Kent/Palisades are in a high-risk flood zone?
No street listed here has most of its length in FEMA high-risk zones. Less than 10% of Macarthur Blvd NW, Canal Rd NW, Foxhall Rd NW, Massachusetts Ave NW, 49th St NW, 44th St NW, Reservoir Rd NW and Sherier Pl NW does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Kent/Palisades in?
Kent/Palisades is in Washington, DC. ZIP codes 20016 and 20007: the ZIP codes on most of the flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines. Check the specific address for its own flood zone.
Do renters need flood insurance?
Standard renters policies usually do not cover flood. Renters in a community that participates in the NFIP can buy contents-only flood coverage, up to $100,000 for belongings.
How long does a new flood policy take to start?
A new NFIP policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Exceptions include no wait when the policy is bought while making, increasing, extending or renewing a mortgage, and a one-day wait in a newly designated high-risk zone within 12 months of the map change.
How much coverage can NFIP provide?
For a one-to-four family home, NFIP building coverage goes up to $250,000 and contents coverage up to $100,000. You can buy flood insurance even if you are not in a high-risk zone, as long as your community participates in the NFIP.
How much is flood insurance in Kent/Palisades?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in Kent/Palisades cost $341 a year: the median of 36 policies that started between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026. Half cost between $323 and $358. One building’s quote can be far from this; its elevation, foundation, age, coverage and deductible all change the price.
FAQ sources: FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy; FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025); 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
Nearby neighborhoods
- Cathedral Heights – living in Cathedral Heights (StrollPlace)
- Does Georgetown flood?
- Does Tenleytown flood?
- Woodley Park – living in Woodley Park (StrollPlace)
- Does Georgetown East flood?
- Forest Hills – living in Forest Hills (StrollPlace)
How these numbers were made
Neighborhood boundary: DC Health Planning Neighborhoods, DC Department of Health (DC Health), published on Open Data DC, licensed CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Flood zone shares: the neighborhood polygon intersected with FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, area computed in an equal-area projection; retrieved November 7, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for District of Columbia (county code 11001), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved November 7, 2026. A 2010 Census block group is counted for a neighborhood when at least 25% of the block group lies inside the neighborhood, or at least 25% of the neighborhood lies inside the block group. Block groups used: 110010008013 (100.0% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010008012 (100.0% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010008014 (100.0% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010008011 (99.9% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010008021 (98.1% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010009021 (100.0% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010009022 (100.0% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010008022 (100.0% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010009011 (100.0% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010009012 (100.0% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades), 110010009013 (100.0% of the block group is inside Kent/Palisades). Neighboring pages can share a block group, so their counts can overlap. Paid totals add building, contents and Increased Cost of Compliance payments and are not adjusted for inflation; a claim whose FEMA record shows a negative payment (an adjustment) counts as zero. See the methodology.
Sources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims - v3. Retrieved on November 7, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on November 7, 2026.
- DC Health Planning Neighborhoods, DC Department of Health (DC Health), published on Open Data DC, licensed CC BY 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups.
- FEMA Glossary: Flood Zones.
- FloodSmart (NFIP): Buy a Flood Insurance Policy.
- FEMA Fact Sheet: Think you don’t need flood insurance? Think again (Jan. 21, 2025).
- 44 CFR 61.11, Effective date and time of coverage.
- OpenFEMA Terms and Conditions.
- FEMA OpenFEMA Dataset: FIMA NFIP Redacted Policies - v3.
- OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3.
- OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads).
Data as of September 8, 2026 (FEMA claims) and November 7, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated November 7, 2026.