Does Oakland flood?
Oakland, Charleston, SC · ZIP codes 29407 and 29414: 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 Oakland have filed flood claims. About 71% of Oakland’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk zones such as AE and VE). NFIP flood insurance records list 393 claims from the Census block groups that cover Oakland, from 1979 through 2025. 256 of them received a payment, totaling $3,682,323 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 1989 (125 claims), 2017 (66 claims), 2016 (57 claims).
What this page counts as Oakland
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for Oakland, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, Oakland means the 2010 Census block groups whose center lies within 1.6 km (1.0 miles) of the U.S. Geological Survey (GNIS) map point for Oakland (feature 1231607), each block group going to the nearest of the places we cover. Every number below is for exactly those block groups (listed in “How these numbers were made”), so the edges are approximate and may include or leave out a few blocks people would call Oakland. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
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 Oakland
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 Oakland
The named streets in Oakland, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Oakland lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Oakland; 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. 35 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Hwy 17 | 2.1 mi | 19% | X (unshaded, minimal) (40%) |
| Wappoo Rd | 4,870 ft | 41% | AE (41%) |
| Parkdale Dr | 4,430 ft | 52% | AE (52%) |
| Culver Ave | 4,170 ft | 48% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (52%) |
| Arlington Dr | 3,710 ft | 24% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (60%) |
| Clayton Dr | 3,570 ft | 54% | AE (54%) |
| S Shore Dr | 3,500 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Piper Dr | 3,440 ft | 26% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (48%) |
| Stinson Dr | 3,430 ft | 40% | AE (40%) |
| Pristine View Rd | 3,340 ft | 56% | AE (56%) |
| Mutual Dr | 3,300 ft | 48% | AE (48%) |
| Cessna Ave | 3,200 ft | 28% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (66%) |
| Capri Dr | 2,990 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Two Oaks Dr | 2,490 ft | 57% | AE (57%) |
| Swift Ave | 2,480 ft | 69% | AE (69%) |
| Millcreek Dr | 2,330 ft | 31% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (68%) |
| Geddes Ave | 2,300 ft | 31% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (66%) |
| E Shore Ln | 2,290 ft | 31% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (45%) |
| Lantern St | 2,250 ft | 0.0% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (73%) |
| Curtiss Ave | 2,160 ft | 96% | AE (96%) |
| River Breeze Dr | 2,000 ft | 100% | AE (100%) |
| Hara Ln | 1,790 ft | 24% | X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) (48%) |
| N Dallerton Cir | 1,770 ft | 92% | AE (92%) |
| Sylvan Shores Dr | 1,770 ft | 90% | AE (90%) |
| Boardwalk Dr | 1,590 ft | 73% | AE (73%) |
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 October 25, 2026. Each street is clipped to the area boundary and measured in an equal-area projection. Street lengths are rounded.
Flood zones in Oakland
Share of Oakland’s mapped area (about 6.592 km²) in each FEMA flood zone, from FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Mapped base flood elevations inside the neighborhood range from 8 to 11 feet. Effective date of the FIRM panel(s) covering it (45019C0491K, 45019C0492K, 45019C0493K, 45019C0494K): January 29, 2021.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| AE | 55% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 18% |
| VE | 16% |
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 11% |
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 Oakland. This area is made of whole block groups, so every claim counted here comes from inside it. Only insured properties appear, so these counts understate total flooding.
By decade
| Decade | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12 | $6,883 |
| 1980s | 140 | $246,704 |
| 1990s | 31 | $72,559 |
| 2000s | 19 | $148,895 |
| 2010s | 171 | $2,797,116 |
| 2020s | 20 | $410,164 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Hurricane Hugo: 122 claims
- Hurricane Irma: 63 claims
- Hurricane Matthew: 56 claims
- October severe storms: 38 claims
- Flooding: 18 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 328
- V/VE (coastal high hazard): 38
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 27
How much is flood insurance in Oakland?
The typical National Flood Insurance Program policy on single-family homes in Oakland costs $1,137 a year: the median of 662 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half of them cost between $906 and $1,603. 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 October 25, 2026.
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Before you rent or buy in Oakland
- 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 Oakland
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Oakland with other Charleston neighborhoods on more than flooding, see Charleston on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Oakland flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Oakland have filed flood claims. About 71% of Oakland’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk zones such as AE and VE). NFIP flood insurance records list 393 claims from the Census block groups that cover Oakland, from 1979 through 2025. 256 of them received a payment, totaling $3,682,323 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 1989 (125 claims), 2017 (66 claims), 2016 (57 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Oakland in a flood zone?
About 71% of Oakland’s mapped area is inside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk zones such as AE and VE). Shares by zone: AE 55%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 18%; VE 16%; X (unshaded, minimal) 11%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect January 29, 2021.
Which streets in Oakland are in a high-risk flood zone?
Most of the length of Parkdale Dr, Clayton Dr, S Shore Dr, Pristine View Rd, Capri Dr, Two Oaks Dr, Swift Ave, Curtiss Ave, River Breeze Dr, N Dallerton Cir, Sylvan Shores Dr and Boardwalk Dr lies in FEMA high-risk zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area). Less than 10% of Lantern St does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Oakland in?
Oakland is in Charleston, SC. ZIP codes 29407 and 29414: 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 Oakland?
The typical NFIP flood insurance policy on single-family homes in Oakland cost $1,137 a year: the median of 662 policies that started between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Half cost between $906 and $1,603. 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
- Does Sherwood Forest flood?
- Does Harrison Acres flood?
- Does Orleans Woods flood?
- Does Indigo Point flood?
- Does Heathwood flood?
- Does Ashley Hall Manor flood?
How these numbers were made
Area: the census-based definition above, using U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names. Flood zone shares: the area polygon intersected with FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels, area computed in an equal-area projection; retrieved October 25, 2026. Claims: OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3 records for Charleston County (county code 45019), dataset as of September 8, 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026. Claims are counted for exactly the block groups that make up the area. Block groups used: 450190028011, 450190028013, 450190028012. 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 October 25, 2026.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), Flood Hazard Zones and FIRM Panels. Retrieved on October 25, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, 2010 Census Block Groups and U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) domestic names.
- 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.
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, Transportation (primary, secondary and local roads).
Data as of September 8, 2026 (FEMA claims) and October 25, 2026 (flood zones). Page last updated October 25, 2026.