Enter any address in Martinsville city, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Martinsville City County, VA. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 17 flash flood events, compared to 5 general flood events and 2 tropical storm events. Recent examples include a flash flood event on September 24, 2024, caused by a slow-moving, intense thunderstorm, and another on June 19, 2023, fueled by high atmospheric moisture and instability.
Homeowners, journalists, and real estate agents should pay close attention to flood risk, particularly those with properties located in areas identified by FEMA as having a higher risk of flooding, as indicated by National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim data.
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.
Martinsville city, Virginia has recorded 24 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 17 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 13 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 |
| Tropical Storm Michael | Hurricane | Oct 9, 2018 |
| 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 Fran And Associated Severe Storm Cond | Hurricane | Sep 5, 1996 |
| Blizzard Of 96 (severe Snow Storm) | Snowstorm | Jan 6, 1996 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Sep 24, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Tropical Storm | Oct 29, 2020 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 21, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 22, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 18, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 18, 2018 | 800.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 17, 2018 | 78.91K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 2, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Sep 24, 2024
A warm front was situated across central Virginia and North Carolina, while a stationary front was positioned across Kentucky and West Virginia, which kept a highly moist airmass over the region. Lift across the warm front and increasing instability via diurnal heating through the day resulted in an increase in coverage and intensity of storms. Some of the storms were severe producing damaging ...
Flood — Jan 9, 2024
A deep, negatively tilted upper level trough and associated occluded front passed from the central Mississippi River Valley on January 9th toward the lower New England region by the morning of the 10th. Strong southerly wind flow ahead of the upper trough carried deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northward into the Carolinas and the lower Mid-Atlantic. Precipitable water values ranged fro...
Flash Flood — Jun 19, 2023
A stacked low over the Ohio Valley pulled a warm front through the Southside Region of Virginia in the afternoon. The upper level support from upper level disturbances rotating around the low allowed storms to develop and grow in intensity as surface-based CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) values increased into the 1,000 to 1,500 J/Kg range. There were scattered areas of wind damage ...
Tropical Storm — Oct 29, 2020
Winds associated with Tropical Storm Zeta caused damage and power outages in southwestern Virginia, concentrated close to border with North Carolina. Wind gusts reached 30-40 knots during the peak of the storm. Numerous trees were blown down by Tropical Storm Zeta, with many falling on homes, power lines, and blocking roadways. A thunderstorm closely following Zeta contributed to some of the wi...
Flash Flood — Aug 21, 2020
Southwest winds aloft were responsible for carrying deep tropical moisture across the Piedmont during the morning of the 21st, while northeasterly flow near the surface was in place due to high pressure wedged against the eastern face of the Appalachians. The high moisture content across the Piedmont, with a precipitable water value of 1.77��� measured from the morning sounding at KGSO, a...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Martinsville 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 Martinsville 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.