50,558 flood insurance claims·$748.5M paid·88,637 policies in force
0 flood alerts from the National Weather Service, checked 2 minutes ago. Whole U.S. →
| River gauge | Now | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Ragged Island Creek at US 17 | Minor flooding (2.8 ft) | — |
| Little Neck Creek at Pinewood Rd in Virginia Beach (MLLW) | Near flood stage (3.3 ft) | — |
| Nansemond River at Suffolk (IN MLLW) | Near flood stage (5.1 ft) | — |
| Nassawadox Creek near Bayford (IN MLLW) | Near flood stage (2.6 ft) | — |
Is your address in the flood zone? Search it above for FEMA’s zone and base flood elevation. A new flood insurance policy usually takes 30 days to start (NFIP rule; exceptions include a policy bought when closing a mortgage), so one bought during a flood generally won’t cover it. Homeowners policies don’t cover flood.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Virginia. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Virginia experiences a mixed flood-risk profile characterized predominantly by frequent flash floods and riverine flooding, alongside significant coastal and tropical hazards. Over the last 30 years, NOAA data records 4,283 flash flood events resulting in 43 deaths, and 3,577 general flood events with 20 deaths. Additionally, the state has faced hundreds of coastal floods, tropical storms, hurricanes, and storm surge or tide events, which collectively account for additional fatalities.
The geographic distribution of these hazards spans from coastal areas impacted by surges and tropical systems to inland regions affected by heavy rains and flash flooding. Recent federal disaster declarations for severe winter storms and flooding, issued on February 10, 2025, underscore the ongoing threat of compounded winter weather and flood impacts across the state.
National Flood Insurance Program records indicate that high-risk Zone A bears the vast majority of financial losses, accounting for 37,638 claims and $608 million paid out at an average of $19,743 per claim. Coastal Zone V properties face the highest average claim costs at $23,413. However, flood risks also extend outside designated high-risk areas, with thousands of claims originating from Zone X and its shaded and unshaded variants, as well as unknown zones. This distribution highlights that while residents in Zone A and Zone V have the most urgent insurance need, property owners in moderate-to-low risk X zones also experience surprise claims and incur tens of millions in total damages.
Summary generated from FEMA disaster declarations, NOAA storm events, and NFIP claim data. Updated quarterly.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims, Policies, and Disaster Declarations data. NFIP policies in force and average premium (premium plus federal policy fee) as of August 31, 2026, from OpenFEMA.
Virginia has received 2,756 federal disaster declarations, including 281 flood and coastal storm declarations and 424 hurricane declarations.
NFIP claims by county, 1978 to date. Source: OpenFEMA. Counties ranked by recorded flood events →
Properties in Virginia FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Virginia had 88,637 NFIP policies in force on August 31, 2026, and the average NFIP premium was $785 a year (premium plus the federal policy fee; the reserve fund assessment and HFIAA surcharge come on top, and nationally they make actual bills about a quarter higher). Under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 each building is priced on its own flood risk, so a state average says little about what any one home will pay.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from properties outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Virginia residents can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP or private insurers.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.
See the most flood-prone counties in Virginia →
Select a county to view local flood zone data and disaster history:
Select a city to check flood zone information: