{
  "slug": "flood-depth-damage-cost",
  "title": "Flood Depth-Damage Cost Estimator",
  "heading": "Flood Depth-Damage Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/flood-depth-damage-cost",
  "summary": "Estimate structural and content damage cost from flood depth using FEMA-style curves.",
  "description": "Flood damage doesn't scale linearly with water depth — the first inch of water in a home (soaking flooring, drywall, and baseboards) often causes a disproportionate share of total damage, while additional feet add damage at a slower marginal rate until contents and systems above the waterline are also submerged. This calculator applies simplified depth-damage percentage curves similar in shape to those FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers use in flood risk studies, scaled to your home's replacement value and contents value. It's meant for rough budgeting and insurance conversation prep, not a substitute for a professional adjuster's on-site assessment, which accounts for water contamination level, duration of standing water, and construction type.",
  "formula": "Damage % from depth-damage curve (one-story, no basement); structure cost = structure value × structure %; contents cost = contents value × contents %.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=flood-depth-damage-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "depth",
      "label": "Flood depth above first floor",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2,
      "unit": "ft",
      "min": -2,
      "max": 12
    },
    {
      "id": "structureValue",
      "label": "Home replacement value",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 300000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 10000,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "contentsValue",
      "label": "Contents value",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 100000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "deductible",
      "label": "Insurance deductible",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Estimated total damage",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "structCost",
      "label": "Structural damage estimate",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "contentsCost",
      "label": "Contents damage estimate",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "structPct",
      "label": "Structural damage %",
      "format": "percent",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "outOfPocket",
      "label": "Out-of-pocket (deductible)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Flood depth above first floor: 2 ft",
      "Home replacement value: 300000 $",
      "Contents value: 100000 $",
      "Insurance deductible: 2000 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Estimated total damage: $145,250",
      "Structural damage estimate: $105,000",
      "Contents damage estimate: $40,250",
      "Structural damage %: 35%",
      "Out-of-pocket (deductible): $2,000"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter flood depth above first floor (ft).",
      "Enter home replacement value ($).",
      "Enter contents value ($).",
      "Enter insurance deductible ($).",
      "Read your estimated total damage on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "depth": 1.2,
        "structureValue": 180000,
        "contentsValue": 60000,
        "deductible": 1000
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "depth": 2,
        "structureValue": 300000,
        "contentsValue": 100000,
        "deductible": 2000
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "depth": 3.2,
        "structureValue": 480000,
        "contentsValue": 160000,
        "deductible": 3000
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why does even a small amount of water cause so much damage?",
      "a": "The first inches of floodwater saturate drywall, flooring, insulation, and baseboards throughout the entire footprint of the home, which is most of the reason depth-damage curves front-load a big damage percentage at shallow depths before flattening out at deeper levels."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?",
      "a": "Standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage almost universally in the US. You need a separate policy, either through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood carrier, and NFIP policies cap building coverage at $250,000 and contents at $100,000 for residential properties."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate are depth-damage curves for a specific house?",
      "a": "They're regional and construction-type averages, not predictions for your exact home. Elevated homes, homes with flood vents, finished vs. unfinished basements, and contaminated (vs. clean) floodwater all shift real damage meaningfully above or below the curve estimate."
    },
    {
      "q": "What single step reduces flood damage the most?",
      "a": "Elevating utilities (HVAC, water heater, electrical panel) above the base flood elevation prevents the most expensive system replacements, since HVAC and electrical damage from flooding often exceeds the cost of flooring and drywall combined."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/hurricane-deductible-calculator",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/wind-pressure-on-wall"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Flood Depth-Damage Cost Estimator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/flood-depth-damage-cost)"
}