Enter any address in Harrisonburg city, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates the flood character in Harrisonburg City County. Recent events include a flood event on August 16, 2021, where showers and thunderstorms resulted in heavy rainfall, leading to instances of flooding and flash flooding. Another event on May 31, 2018, saw heavy rain develop in northern Virginia, producing another round of flooding and some flash flooding near Harrisonburg.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced 23 claims with an average payout of $7,509 and an average water depth of 1.3 feet. Properties in Zone X have had 13 claims with a higher average payout of $31,668 and an average water depth of 7.6 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, and those in Zone X who may not be aware of their specific flood risk, should pay close attention to flood information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Harrisonburg city, Virginia has recorded 29 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods and 17 river or area floods. The county has received 14 federal disaster declarations, 3 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 Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Hurricane Isabel | Hurricane | Sep 18, 2003 |
| Hurricane Fran And Associated Severe Storm Cond | Hurricane | Sep 5, 1996 |
| Flooding, High Winds, And Wind Driven Rain | Flood | Jan 19, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Aug 16, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 28, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 2, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 28, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 18, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 16, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 4, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 29, 2015 | 0.00K |
Flood — Aug 16, 2021
A boundary remain draped overhead while a deep southerly flow ushered in plenty of moisture. Showers and thunderstorms resulted in heavy rainfall that led to instances of flooding and flash flooding.
Flash Flood — May 31, 2018
Upslope winds on the east side of the Blue Ridge just north of an approaching warm front aided in producing torrential rainfall and catastrophic flooding in parts of Central Virginia. Rainfall amounts of 4-10 inches occurred north and west of Charlottesville. Later in the evening, heavy rain developed in northern Virginia, with 1-3 inches in the southern and western suburbs of Washington DC, as...
Flood — May 28, 2018
Scattered thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front over Maryland during the afternoon hours of May 27th. Moderate to heavy rain on saturated soil produced flooding in portions of northern Virginia. The soils were so saturated that just moderate rain caused more flooding near Harrisonburg during the afternoon of the 28th as the cold front pushed through the region.
Flood — May 27, 2018
Scattered thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front over Maryland during the afternoon hours of May 27th. Moderate to heavy rain on saturated soil produced flooding in portions of northern Virginia. The soils were so saturated that just moderate rain caused more flooding near Harrisonburg during the afternoon of the 28th as the cold front pushed through the region.
Flood — Jun 2, 2018
Some carryover flooding from an event on May 31st continued into the early morning hours of June 1st. Moderate to heavy rain on saturated soil caused isolated flooding on the evening of June 1st. Heavier and more persistent rain on the 2nd caused more widespread flooding, with isolated instances of flash flooding.
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 Harrisonburg 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 Harrisonburg 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.