Enter any address in Kings County, California to see its FEMA flood zone
Flood events, including flash floods, have occurred 40 times in Kings County over the last 30 years. Recent events include heavy precipitation in January 2023 and February 2024, driven by strong low-pressure systems drawing in tropical moisture.
National Flood Insurance Program data shows that while Zone A properties have experienced more frequent claims and higher average payouts, Zone X properties have also seen claims, albeit with lower average payouts and water depths.
Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X, should be aware of their flood risk. Properties located in flood-prone areas, particularly those without a Base Flood Elevation (BFE), may warrant increased attention to flood preparedness.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
28 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Kings County, California has recorded 40 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 6 flash floods and 34 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations, 8 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2023)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Mar 9, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Feb 21, 2023 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Jan 8, 2023 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 1, 2017 |
| Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Debris And Mud Flows | Flood | Dec 17, 2010 |
| Severe Freeze | Freezing | Jan 11, 2007 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Citrus Crop Damage 2/2/99 | Freezing | Dec 20, 1998 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 1, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 20, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 19, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 17, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 10, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 10, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 10, 2023 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flood — Apr 13, 2024
A large upper low pressure system approached the central California coast on April 13 spreading increased clouds and precipitation into the interior of central California during the afternoon while temperatures plummeted as a cooler airmass pushed into the area. The most noticeable impact rom this system was strong wind gusts which accompanied the main cold front. Several reports of wind gusts ...
Flood — Feb 1, 2024
The strong low pressure system which approached the area on January 31 pulled up a deep surge of tropical moisture which brought moderate to heavy precipitation to much of the area on February 1 through the morning of February 2. Much of the San Joaquin Valley, West Side Hills and Tehachapi Mountains measured between 0.75 inches and 1.50 inches of rainfall while the Sierra Foothills picked up 1...
Flood — Feb 24, 2023
A large cold upper low pressure system dropped slowly southward off the California coast on February 24 and 25. This system brought 1.5 to 3 inches of liquid precipitation between the early morning of February 24 and the late morning of February 25 to the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills as well as to the Tehachapi Mountains and the San Joaquin Valley. This was a cold storm with snow levels...
Flood — Dec 20, 2023
An upper level low dropped slowly southward off the California coast on between December 19 and December 21. Moisture associated with this feature produced widespread precipitation across our area between the evening of December 19 and the morning of December 21 with most of the precipitation occurring during the afternoon and evening of December 20. Much of the San Joaquin Valley and the Kern ...
Flood — Dec 19, 2023
An upper level low dropped slowly southward off the California coast on between December 19 and December 21. Moisture associated with this feature produced widespread precipitation across our area between the evening of December 19 and the morning of December 21 with most of the precipitation occurring during the afternoon and evening of December 20. Much of the San Joaquin Valley and the Kern ...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Kings County, California:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Kings County, California that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.