Enter any address in Bland County, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood concern in Bland County. Recent events include flash flooding on February 15th, 2025, and May 29th, 2023, driven by atmospheric moisture pooling. Additionally, broader flood events occurred on February 6th, 2020, and April 23rd, 2017, resulting from slow-moving weather systems and prolonged rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced a higher volume of claims, with an average payout of $15,812 and an average water depth of 2.1 feet. While Zone X has seen fewer claims, the average payout is significantly higher at $46,059, with an average water depth of 1.5 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, particularly those located in low-lying areas or near waterways, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Bland County, Virginia has recorded 23 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 16 flash floods and 7 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1976–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 10, 2025 |
| Post-tropical Cyclone Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 13, 2018 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 20.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | May 29, 2023 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 23, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2016 | 75.00K |
| Flood | Apr 20, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 19, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 19, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 12, 2013 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 14, 2012 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A deep upper level trough was observed exiting the southern Rockies during the morning of February 15th, with southwesterly windflow ahead of the trough allowing for a fetch of deep moisture from the western Gulf of America. This moisture pooled along a warm front situated across from Kentucky into southwest Virginia, where precipitable water values increased from 0.6 to 0.7 inches at 7 am that...
Flash Flood — May 29, 2023
A deep, closed upper level low pressure system was observed over central Alabama on the morning of May 28th. The east winds around this low, allowed deep sub-tropical moisture from the Atlantic to move into lower Mid-Atlantic region. Areas of rain developed across the mountains by late morning, and gradually increased in coverage due to the sustained 25 to 30 knot (850mb) moisture inflow. Preci...
Flood — Feb 6, 2020
A deep upper-level trough moved slowly across the central and eastern U.S. drawing abundant moisture northward. At the same time, a complex frontal boundary with several waves of low pressure brought repeated rounds of heavy rainfall to the region. Rainfall totals for the 72-hour period ending at 700 AM on February 7th ranged from 2 to 6 inches with isolated higher amounts mainly along the Blue...
Flood — Apr 23, 2017
Several waves of low pressure moved across the area as an upper level low closed off over the southeastern U.S. Signiifcant rainfall began early on April 22nd over far southwest Virginia and the rainfall persisted on and off over the next four days with mainly moderate rates (0.10��� to 0.25��� per hour) as the upper low drifted very slowly eastward from the lower Mississippi Valley...
Flash Flood — Jun 27, 2016
An approaching cold front brought thunderstorms with widespread showers and pockets of heavy rainfall from mid to late morning on the 27th and continuing into the early evening. Rainfall under the most intense storms was estimated by radar at 1 to 2.5 inches with locally higher amounts up to 3 inches, most of which fell in under 3 hours. An NWS COOP gage near Glasgow measured 3.55 inches for th...
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 Bland County, Virginia:
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 Bland County, Virginia 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.