The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that just an inch of water inside a home can cause as much as $25,000 worth of damage. It follows that flooding is among the most destructive of major property-loss events. And it's not just coastal cities that live with the ever-present risk of flooding. Communities near rivers and aquafers also are at risk, and hurricane-related storm surge is a serious threat, too. Although some states such as Louisiana and Florida are well-known for their high-flood risk, it's less common for risk watchers to discuss cities, which is why some of the cities in the U.S. with high flood-risk scores may be surprising. The slideshow above illustrates 10 U.S. cities that are among the most risky for damaging flooding, according to Insurify. Insurify researchers paired FEMA's 2023 flood risk scores with each city's population, average home insurance costs and average home value in order to determine a geographically specific flood-risk score. High-flood risk can negatively impact property values. But flooding experts often issue the following warning: Anywhere it can rain, it can flood. And that's everywhere. See also:

• NOAA: Nearly half of U.S. at risk of spring flooding
• Flood insurance misconceptions debunked
• Flood insurance in 2023: More floods, reduced uptake unless action is taken