Does Sorrento flood?
Sorrento, San Diego, CA · ZIP code 92121: the ZIP code on 57 of the 57 flood insurance claims counted here. ZIP codes do not follow neighborhood lines.
Yes. Insured properties in and around Sorrento have filed flood claims. About 25% of Sorrento’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 57 claims from the Census block groups that cover Sorrento, from 1993 through 2017. 25 of them received a payment, totaling $2,663,348 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2005 (24 claims), 2016 (11 claims), 1995 (9 claims).
What this page counts as Sorrento
We could not find an openly licensed official boundary for Sorrento, so this page uses a census-based area. For this page, Sorrento 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 Sorrento (feature 1656634), 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 Sorrento. 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 Sorrento
Neighborhood figures are averages. Our address check looks up the FEMA flood zone and California’s fire hazard severity zone at one address, from the same public maps: check if your address is in a flood zone.
Flood zones street by street in Sorrento
The named streets in Sorrento, longest first, with how much of each street’s length inside Sorrento lies in FEMA’s high-risk flood zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area, zones A and V). Length is the part inside Sorrento; 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. 17 shorter streets are not listed.
| Street | Length | In high-risk zones | Main zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Fwy | 5.8 mi | 5.7% | X (unshaded, minimal) (91%) |
| Jacob Dekema Fwy | 4.8 mi | 2.5% | X (unshaded, minimal) (94%) |
| Sorrento Valley Rd | 3.8 mi | 52% | AE (52%) |
| N Torrey Pines Rd | 3.6 mi | 1.6% | X (unshaded, minimal) (98%) |
| Genesee Ave | 2.2 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Carmel Valley Rd | 1.5 mi | 54% | AE (54%) |
| Roselle St | 1.5 mi | 50% | AE (50%) |
| Flintkote Ave | 1.4 mi | 32% | X (unshaded, minimal) (65%) |
| Towne Centre Dr | 1.2 mi | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| I-5 Local Byp | 4,790 ft | 10% | X (unshaded, minimal) (89%) |
| Tower Dr | 4,570 ft | 2.1% | X (unshaded, minimal) (98%) |
| La Jolla Village Dr | 4,570 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Eastgate Mall | 4,030 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Science Center Dr | 3,900 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Executive Dr | 3,900 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Judicial Dr | 3,520 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| John Jay Hopkins Dr | 3,170 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Campus Point Dr | 3,050 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Tower Rd | 1,850 ft | 3.3% | X (unshaded, minimal) (90%) |
| Carroll Canyon Rd | 1,700 ft | 15% | X (unshaded, minimal) (62%) |
| Callan Rd | 1,580 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Torreyana Rd | 1,560 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Easter Way | 1,490 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Campus Point Ct | 1,230 ft | 0.0% | X (unshaded, minimal) (100%) |
| Science Park Rd | 1,190 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 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 Sorrento
Share of Sorrento’s mapped area (about 11.866 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 (06073C1309H, 06073C1317H, 06073C1336G, 06073C1338G, 06073C1339G, 06073C1602G): May 16, 2012, December 20, 2019.
| FEMA zone | Share of area |
|---|---|
| X (unshaded, minimal) | 72% |
| AE | 25% |
| X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) | 2.8% |
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 Sorrento. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10 | $133,409 |
| 2000s | 25 | $206,400 |
| 2010s | 22 | $2,323,539 |
By year of loss
Named flood events with the most claims
- Flooding: 2 claims
FEMA labels some events only as “Flooding”. Claims by the flood zone the property was rated in:
- A/AE/AH/AO (high risk): 32
- X/B/C (moderate or minimal): 25
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Extreme heat in Sorrento
FEMA’s National Risk Index rates heat wave risk for the census tracts that cover Sorrento as: “Very Low” for 100% of the area. Their heat wave risk scores range from 9 to 9 out of 100 (national percentiles). The index weighs how often heat waves happen, what they are expected to cost, and how vulnerable and resilient the community is, so a dense area can rate differently from a nearby one (FEMA National Risk Index, Census Tracts feature layer, Version 1.20.0 (December 2025)).
Trees shade streets and buildings and cool the air around them (U.S. EPA: Using Trees and Vegetation to Reduce Heat Islands). In the USDA Forest Service’s 2025 satellite-based tree canopy map, trees cover about 11% of Sorrento’s area on average, compared with 7.1% for San Diego as a whole (the 45 San Diego areas on this site combined) (USDA Forest Service. 2026. USFS NLCD Percent Tree Canopy CONUS v2025-6 (2025 map). Salt Lake City, UT).
During a heat advisory, follow the National Weather Service: Heat Safety guidance. Neighborhood averages cannot tell you how hot a particular home, block or unit gets.
Fire hazard severity zones in Sorrento
California’s 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps place about 57% of Sorrento’s mapped area in a Very High fire hazard severity zone, 22% in High and 12% in Moderate; 9.4% is outside any zone (CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones).
The zones describe the fire hazard of the land, from vegetation, terrain, fire weather and wind-blown embers, not the risk to a particular home. Homes in these zones face stricter building and defensible-space rules, sellers must disclose the zone to buyers, and home insurance can be harder to find. Ask about the roof, vents and the clearance around the building, and get insurance quotes early.
Fire hazard data: CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal. CAL FIRE does not endorse this site.
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). FEMA: “The National Risk Index data are meant for planning purposes only. This National Risk Index dataset was created for broad nationwide comparisons and is not a substitute for localized risk assessment analysis.”
Before you rent or buy in Sorrento
- 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 Sorrento
Flood maps are only one part of choosing a neighborhood. To compare Sorrento with other San Diego neighborhoods on more than flooding, see San Diego on StrollPlace.
Buyer and renter FAQ
Does Sorrento flood?
Yes. Insured properties in and around Sorrento have filed flood claims. About 25% of Sorrento’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 57 claims from the Census block groups that cover Sorrento, from 1993 through 2017. 25 of them received a payment, totaling $2,663,348 (not adjusted for inflation). The busiest years were 2005 (24 claims), 2016 (11 claims), 1995 (9 claims). Past claims do not predict future flooding, and conditions vary street by street, so check the specific address.
Is Sorrento in a flood zone?
About 25% of Sorrento’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) 72%; AE 25%; X (shaded, 0.2% annual chance) 2.8%. The FIRM panel(s) covering it took effect May 16, 2012, December 20, 2019.
Which streets in Sorrento are in a high-risk flood zone?
Most of the length of Sorrento Valley Rd and Carmel Valley Rd lies in FEMA high-risk zones (the Special Flood Hazard Area). Less than 10% of San Diego Fwy, Jacob Dekema Fwy, N Torrey Pines Rd, Genesee Ave, Towne Centre Dr, Tower Dr, La Jolla Village Dr and Eastgate Mall does. Zones can change along a street, so check the exact address.
What ZIP code is Sorrento in?
Sorrento is in San Diego, CA. ZIP code 92121: the ZIP code on 57 of the 57 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.
Is Sorrento in a fire hazard zone?
About 91% of Sorrento’s mapped area is in a moderate, high or very high fire hazard severity zone on California’s 2025 maps. The zone for one address can differ; the address check on this site looks it up.
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
- University City
- North Clairemont
- Mira Mesa
- Does La Jolla flood?
- Clairemont
- Miramar
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 San Diego County (county code 06073), 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: 060730083391. 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. Tree canopy: the mean of the 2025 NLCD Tree Canopy Cover values (0–100%, 30 m cells in an equal-area projection) for cells whose center lies inside the polygon. Fire hazard severity zones: the 2025 zone polygons (Local and State Responsibility Areas) intersected with the neighborhood polygon in an equal-area projection; the share of area in each class. FEMA National Risk Index: census tracts intersected with the polygon in an equal-area projection; each rating’s share is the share of the polygon covered by tracts with that rating (tracts covering less than 1% are left out; together the tracts used cover 100%). We do not compute a new score. Tracts used: 06073008339 (100%). 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.
- USDA Forest Service. 2026. USFS NLCD Percent Tree Canopy CONUS v2025-6 (2025 map). Salt Lake City, UT (30 m cells; read October 30, 2026).
- National Weather Service: Heat Safety.
- U.S. EPA: Using Trees and Vegetation to Reduce Heat Islands.
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zones (2025 maps; read October 30, 2026).
- FEMA National Risk Index, Census Tracts feature layer, Version 1.20.0 (December 2025) (retrieved October 30, 2026).
- 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); hazard data computed October 30, 2026. Page last updated October 30, 2026.