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Cities with the Best Flood and Wildfire Mitigation

Which cities are mitigating disasters effectively, and which are at the bottom of the list?

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By Susan Meyer
Updated November 19, 2025
Edited By Beth Swanson
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Beth Swanson

Insurance Analyst

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • Associate in Insurance (AINS)
  • Professional Risk Consultant (PRC)
  • Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
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  1. 10 Best Cities
  2. 10 Worst Cities
  3. Methodology

The Destructive Power of Fire and Water

Changes in climate risk across the country have taken lives and caused major damage to personal property. In 2024 alone, the cost of natural disasters surpassed $182 billion.[1] Flooding and wildfires are major contributors to these catastrophes, with increased flash floods and longer, more widespread burning than ever before.[2]

These increased risks make it more expensive to keep properties insured, particularly in areas that are especially prone to flooding and fires. That's why the Zebra set out to find out which cities have the lowest risk levels and best mitigation plans in place. We looked at the following three metrics:

 

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: While most large cities have hazard mitigation plans in place, some have expired policies that could increase risk. 
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount:
  • Wildfire risk: This metric determines the risk of wildfire compared to other communities in the country. 

 

 

Read on to find out which cities fare the best when it comes to flood and wildfire mitigation, plus a list of the 10 worst cities in the U.S.

Cities with Best Flood and Fire Mitigation

Source: The Zebra

The 10 U.S. Cities With the Best Flood and Wildfire Mitigation

#1: Seattle, Washington

Seattle takes the number one spot on our list thanks to balanced risk mitigation between both flooding and wildfires. The city has an active hazard mitigation plan in place, while also receiving a 40% discount on FEMA flood insurance policies. That means even properties located in flood zones are being impacted by the city's efforts. Plus, there's an extremely low risk of wildfire in the area — 94% of the country has a higher risk than Seattle.

Seattle by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: 40%
  • Wildfire risk: 6% higher risk

#2: Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is another city with an approved mitigation plan in place, keeping the area prepared in case of natural disasters. Flood insurance discount data was not available, but Columbus does have a lower risk of wildfires than the majority of the country — 89% of U.S. cities are riskier.

Columbus by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: Data not available
  • Wildfire risk: 11% higher risk

#3: Baltimore, Maryland (tied)

Third place comes with a three-way tie, starting with Baltimore. Residents receive a 25% rate discount on FEMA flood insurance policies. And on top of that, the city places fifth for lowest wildfire risk. Only 8% of other areas in the country have a lower risk.

Baltimore by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: 25%
  • Wildfire risk: 8% higher risk

#3: Cincinnati, Ohio (tied)

Our next third-place city is Cincinnati. The city is timely with keeping an updated hazard mitigation plan in place. And while there is no data available on flood insurance discounts, only 13% of the country has a lower risk of wildfires.

Cincinnati by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: Data not available
  • Wildfire risk: 13% higher risk

#3: Louisville, Kentucky (tied)

The final third-place spot is Louisville, which has one of the highest flood insurance discounts in the country (35%). The risk of wildfire is slightly higher at 20%, but still places Louisville within the 10 lowest risk cities. There's also an approved hazard mitigation plan in place.

Louisville by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: 35%
  • Wildfire risk: 20%

#6: Buffalo, New York (tied)

Buffalo doesn't have flood insurance discount data available, but the city does have an up-to-date hazard mitigation plan in place. The wildfire risk is higher than 21% of the country — one of the highest in our top 10, but still low compared to other areas.

Buffalo by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: Data not available
  • Wildfire risk: 21%

#6: Milwaukee, Wisconsin (tied)

Milwaukee shares a similar flood and wildfire mitigation profile as Buffalo. The risk of widespread fires is the same, at 21%. On top of that, residents benefit from an approved hazard mitigation plan, but there's no data on flood insurance discounts.

Milwaukee by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: Data not available
  • Wildfire risk: 21%

#8: Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland takes the 8th spot on our list, partially due to an approved hazard mitigation plan. On top of that, the city's risk of wildfire is lower than 78% of the country. No data was available on flood insurance discounts.

Cleveland by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: Data not available
  • Wildfire risk: 22%

#9: Detroit, Michigan (tied)

Detroit residents located in flood zones receive a 15% discount on FEMA insurance policies. On top of that, the risk of wildfire is minimal, with only 6% of the country having a lower risk level. Plus, Detroit has an updated mitigation plan for hazards.

Detroit by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: 15%
  • Wildfire risk: 6%

#9: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (tied)

Our final spot goes to Pittsburgh. It has the highest risk of wildfire in our top 10, which is higher than 23% of the country. There's no flood insurance data available, but the city has an approved hazard mitigation plan in place to handle natural disasters.

Pittsburgh by the numbers

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan: Yes
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount: Data not available
  • Wildfire risk: 23%

The 10 Worst U.S. Cities for Flood and Wildfire Mitigation

Which cities are the worst when it comes to flood and wildfire mitigation? Here are the top 10. 

  1. Salt Lake City, Utah
  2. San Francisco, California
  3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  4. Los Angeles, California
  5. Nashville, Tennessee
  6. San Diego, California
  7. San Jose, California
  8. Virginia Beach, Virginia
  9. New Orleans, Louisiana
  10. Orlando, Florida

Methodology

The Zebra pulled three data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs (by population) in the U.S. related to flooding and wildfire. Community data was substituted for certain categories, and Washington, D.C., was removed due to a lack of data.

  • Approved hazard mitigation plan (FEMA)[3]
  • NFIP Community Rating System Class discount (FEMA)[4]
  • Wildfire risk[5]
Sources

  1. 2024: An active year of U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters. [Climate.gov]

  2. Climate change indicators: Wildfires. [EPA.gov]

  3. Hazard Mitigation Plan Status. [FEMA]

  4. Community Rating System. [FEMA]

  5. Wildfire risk to community. [Wildfire Risk]