Enter any address in Patrick County, Virginia to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the primary flood concern in Patrick County. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 61 flash flood events, resulting in one fatality. Other flood types, including general flooding and tropical storms, have also occurred. Recent events include heavy rain across the county in December 2024, following a cold front. In January 2024, a trough system brought significant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties designated as Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $28,513 and an average water depth of 1.9 feet. Properties in Zone X_Unshaded also show a history of claims, averaging $15,976 in payouts and 1.0 foot of water depth. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, and those in Zone X_Unshaded, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
42 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Patrick County, Virginia has recorded 77 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 61 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 19 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 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 25, 2024 |
| Severe Winter Storms | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 11, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Florence | Hurricane | Sep 13, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 22, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Bull Mountain Fire | Fire | Apr 15, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Dec 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2023 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 28, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 20, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 21, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 21, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 21, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 29, 2020 | 0.00K |
Flood — Dec 11, 2024
A cold front crossed the region during the mid-morning hours of December 11, 2024. Behind this front, winds increased significantly from the west-northwest. Some of these winds were strong enough to cause damage in the form of downed trees and power lines. Portions on Henry, Carroll, and Pittsylvania Counties reported trees down. Two power lines came down in Carroll County. Heavy rain occurred...
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 — Aug 28, 2023
A series of training thunderstorms produced extremely high rainfall across portions of Patrick and Carroll Counties during the predawn hours of August 28th. This resulted in areas of flash flooding, mainly in the headwaters of the Smith River and the Ararat River. ||The event began with a stationary front draped near the border of Virginia and North Carolina early on the 28th as an upper level ...
Flash Flood — Jun 20, 2023
A stacked upper level low pressure system drifted from the Ohio River Valley to eastern Kentucky during the early morning hours of the 20th. South-southeasterly windflow around the low was efficient in transporting deep moisture into the area from the coastal Carolinas, allowing precipitable water values to rise into the 1.5 to 1.7 inch range along the crest of the Blue Ridge in Virginia south ...
Flash Flood — Aug 21, 2022
A warm front, drifting northward from the Carolinas across the lower Mid-Atlantic, triggered scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain. Strong heating during the afternoon supported surface-based CAPE values rising into the 2,000 to 2,500 J/Kg range, while precipitable water values ranged from around 1.5 inches along the Blue Ridge to in excess of 1.8 inches across the central Piedmont of Virgin...
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 Patrick 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 Patrick 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.