Enter any address in Chesapeake city, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall is the most frequent type of flood event recorded in Chesapeake City County over the past 30 years, with 36 occurrences. Coastal flooding is also a significant concern, with 12 events recorded in the same period. Recent examples include widespread flooding on September 16, 2025, attributed to heavy rainfall and higher-than-normal tides, and moderate to major coastal flooding on October 12-13, 2025, caused by prolonged northeasterly winds.
National Flood Insurance Program data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $10,537 and an average water depth of 3.0 feet. While Zone X properties have seen fewer claims, some, like those in Zone X_SHADED and Zone X_UNSHADED, have experienced notable water depths with lower average payouts. Homeowners in coastal areas, those near rivers, and properties located in zones with higher average water depths should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
16 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Chesapeake city, Virginia has recorded 71 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 36 flash floods and 10 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 13, 2018 |
| Hurricane Matthew | Hurricane | Oct 7, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Ida And A Nor'east | Severe Storm | Nov 11, 2009 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Hurricane Isabel | Hurricane | Sep 18, 2003 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flood | Oct 28, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Aug 21, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 16, 2025 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 12, 2025 | 60.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 25, 2023 | 0.00K |
Coastal Flood — Oct 28, 2025
Low pressure off the Mid-Atlantic coast combined with high pressure in Canada, resulting in a lengthy period of northeasterly onshore flow. Increasing tidal anomalies resulted in moderate to locally major tidal flooding over an extended period.
Coastal Flood — Aug 21, 2025
Hurricane Erin passed well offshore and combined with high pressure to the north, resulting in a period of strong onshore winds and coastal flooding across eastern Virginia and the Virginia Eastern Shore.
Flash Flood — Sep 16, 2025
An area of low pressure brought gusty winds and heavy rainfall to southeast Virginia and the Virginia Eastern Shore on September 16. Multiple bands of heavy rainfall rotated inland as the low approached the coast from the late morning into the evening hours, with widespread reports of flooding throughout the region during the day. Higher-than-normal high tide cycles also exacerbated impacts fro...
Coastal Flood — Sep 16, 2025
A coastal low lingered near the North Carolina and Virginia coastline on September 16, slowly moving northwest into the Chesapeake Bay by the evening of September 16. This low brought a prolonged period of elevated northerly winds across the Chesapeake Bay, resulting in widespread moderate to locally major coastal flooding across portions of eastern Virginia.
Coastal Flood — Oct 12, 2025
A coastal low formed off of the Southeast coast on October 11 and slowly tracked north into October 13 before moving offshore. Meanwhile, a strong 1035mb area of high pressure lingered over the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. This resulted in a prolonged period of strong northeast to north winds across the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters, which allowed for widespread moderate to major coastal floodin...
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 Chesapeake city, 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 Chesapeake city, 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.